The actor enjoys taking on the role of a vampire in “Morbius,” a new Marvel Factory episode: “Trying to please someone is a waste of time,” he says.
Jared Leto (Louisiana, 1971) was inspired by vampires to create the character Morbius in the final installment of the Marvel universe. The film tells the story of a biochemist named Michael Morbius, who accidentally becomes infected with a form of vampirism while trying to cure himself of a rare blood disease. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, the film opens on April 1 after several years of delay due to the pandemic. After disappearing into real-life characters such as Paolo Gucci in ‘The Gucci House’ and Adam Neumann’s in the series ‘WeCrashed’, recently released on the Apple+ platform, Leto returns to the superhero genre with a role that involved turning into a vampire. ‘Morbius’ is the spin-off of ‘Spider-Man’, although no one has revealed whether the characters will meet in a future film of the saga. For now, Leto has committed to producing and starring a new “Tron” movie.
-Do you like the imaginary vampires?
-I love it. Vampires are some of the greatest creatures in movies. I have been fascinated by them from childhood. Ever since I saw the silent movie ‘Nosferatu’, which is a hundred years old, I have always loved vampires. From Anne Rice’s novels to Dracula or ‘The Anxiety’, starring David Bowie. To me, there’s something iconic about the ability to become this kind of creature. It’s one of the roles you want to play because you can put a different, personal spin on it. When I chose this project, I did it by being carried away by my inner voice, not by a feverish desire to become a vampire. As an artist I am interested in exploring all corners of humanity, to understand what moves us when making decisions.
-To play Paolo Gucci he had to gain weight and in this role he also had to lose it.
-Yes. I weighed 140 kilos and I weighed 50 kilos because of the requirements of the script. I’ve done it all, but I don’t think I’ll get the weight back. Paolo’s character was very traumatic. I never want to eat like this again. Those junk food binges leave you exhausted.
-From Paolo Gucci, he jumped to the series ‘WeCrashed’, where he plays Israeli businessman Adam Neumann. Do you like characters based on real people?
-I like different characters. Neumann fascinates because he has a very special way of speaking and a direct and courageous attitude to life. I understand the fascination it evokes, because I was the first to fall in love with his life. When you play a real person, you have a responsibility to do it truthfully, without coloring too much. You will never be that person, it will be your vision, but you hope to capture their spirit and their essence. I’m not worried about pleasing anyone, that’s a waste of time. I examine his triumphs and his faults and try to examine them critically.
– Prefers an anti-hero like Morbius.
-It’s a wonderful role because it took me to the darkest corners of the universe. Paolo Gucci needed hours of makeup, wigs, prosthetics, and my accent changed. With Morbius I can outdo myself in a different way because it knows no limits. I like to immerse myself and engage with the characters I play regardless of weight, accent or hours of work on set.
-This character is one of his sinister villains.
-At first I was hesitant. Then I thought I could give a different view of vampires and decided to interview the director, Daniel Espinosa, to find out what his intention was. It’s always worth taking risks with characters that provoke audiences, and I’m not going to deny that I was interested in working with this team.
Do you like to scare your audience?
– That cost me most of the character. From the moment he opened his mouth, he wanted the viewer to feel fear. He was not looking for a deep voice, but to provoke fear with roundness and softness, ambiguous.
– Aren’t you afraid that your versatility will turn against you?
I’ve done it many times and I don’t take it lightly. When you physically bond with a character, you can cause the character to emerge from within. I do my very best to talk to other actors when they ask me for advice. I don’t think I’ll do it again because it’s getting harder and harder, although I always say I won’t do it again and I’ll eventually do it again.
-He prepares to the maximum and continues to live in the role for months.
A: My reputation is exaggerated. I had a lot of fun creating this character as it has allowed me to understand working and acting from a different point of view with new digital technologies. I’m like that, I like to create characters and learn new points of view. The magic happens before I enter the set, in the immersive work that allows me to arrive prepared for the shoot. I enjoy the challenge beyond reason.
It’s common to hear actors say they’re trying to find empathy for their characters. Looking for the same with a role as Morbius?
The world is full of possibilities, full of potential, full of promise. That is beautiful. If you have a colorful piece of paper, you sprinkle it with extraordinary emotions and eventually empathy is created.
Does criticism bother you? This year he was nominated for the Razzie, which rewards the worst jobs.
I don’t worry too much about being liked, it seems like a waste of time. I do not believe that anyone succeeds or fails to listen to the voices of others. This is a subjective job, the essence will always be a well prepared job and nobody can question that.
-He identifies with Morbius.
-He can be crazy and so can I. He can be a cool guy and I can be a cool guy. I am an artist and what I want is to fulfill my dreams.
Source: La Verdad
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