First look at Jared Leto as The Joker

Jared Leto as the Joker in 2016's Suicide Squad Credit: Warner Brothers

After months of speculation, and with Heath Ledger's huge shoes to fill, we've finally been given our first look at Jared Leto as the Joker.

Leto will be starring as the iconic villain in next year's Suicide Squad, alongside Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Cara Delavingne, as a team of supervillains carrying out black ops missions on behalf of the American government.

Leto is the first actor to play one of the most famous comic book baddies of all time since Heath Ledger stunned the world with a scarred, chilling take on the character.

The image was released on Twitter by the film's director David Ayer, to coincide with the character's 75th birthday. It's safe to say that Leto's version of the joker is fresh take.