Suicide Squad: Jai Courtney 'took mushrooms' for his role in DC film

He also claims to have self-harmed to get into the mindset of character Boomerang

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 28 July 2016 11:28 BST
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It says a lot about the current state of superhero films that the comic book adaptation everyone's most excited about is centred around the villains and not the good guys.

While the critical verdict of DC's Suicide Squad is yet to be cast, it certainly seems director David Ayer (End of Watch) and his ensemble - including Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Will Smith - have done their bit to ensure fans will be left satisfied.

Granted, a lot of the film's anticipation has been drummed up by Leto's Joker, a role which reportedly saw him send pig's heads, black rats and condoms to his fellow cast members.

It seems, however, he wasn't the only one who went a bit too far for their role. In an interview with Empire, Jai Courtney - who plays Boomerang - revealed his research for the role involved drug-taking and self-harm, reports Yahoo! Movies.

He recounts a Skype chat with Ayer.

“That night I happened to eat some mushrooms and I did self-inflict some burns," he commented.

Elsewhere, Empire's set visit report revealed that Ayer pushed his actors to extreme limits. Rick Flag actor Joel Kinnaman, who starred in the most recent season of House of Cards, was made to watch classified military videos that he branded "horrific shit," while former actor star Adewale Akkinuoye Agbaje (Killer Croc) was asked to listen to tapes of Japanese cannibal Issei Sagawa who murdered and ate Renée Hartevelt in 1981.

Suicide Squad - which also stars Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis and Jay Hernandez - will be released on 5 August.

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