‘Why cast him?’ Hollywood insiders cast doubt on Jared Leto’s leading man status after yet another flop
Jared Leto’s career has hit a new low, and the beleaguered Hollywood star could be pulling down Disney with him.
Disney’s latest movie flop has become yet another disaster for the beleaguered company, but it also spells trouble for its waining star Jared Leto.
Tron: Ares hit cinemas last week and was savagely ripped apart by critics and audiences alike. The Disney sci-fi tentpole pulled in a dismal $33.2 million in the U.S. despite having production budget of at least $US180 million. Internationally, the sci-epic only mustered $US27 million for a global start of $US60.2 million.
It’s likely the film will cost Disney well over $100 million worth of losses by the time all is said and done, which is yet another blow for a company that has suffered disappointments including Fantastic 4 and Snow White.
MORE: Tron actor Jared Leto’s $7.5m Hollywood fortress
But all eyes appear to be on Jared Leto, who while once a critical and audience darling, has been hit by a string of box office bombs in recent years amid numerous sexual allegations.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that despite his recent reputation, he managed to secure a high seven figures for the role, plus a seven-figure producing fee.
Industry insiders have shared their confusion over Disney’s eagerness to work with Leto, specially after Spider-Man universe spin-off Morbius, which opened to $US39 million stateside en route to a terrible $US167 million globally in 2022
“In a world where Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch are having a hard time getting lead roles, why would you even go to a person who can’t open a movie and who has question marks around him as a person?” one top talent manager told The Hollywood Reporter.
Earlier this year, Air Mail published nine allegations from women who described disturbing conduct, ranging from unwanted flirtatious behaviour when they were minors to incidents of indecent exposure.
Leto has denied all allegations against him.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the allegations “worried” Disney executives, who were left scrambling amid concerns that more claims could emerge ahead of the movie’s release.
Leto is next to start in MGM/Mattel’s Masters of the Universe as He-Man’s antagonist Skeletor. It’s a role he was cast in before both Tron’s failure at the box office and the allegations made against him.
Fans raised concerns about his casting, with one remarking on Reddit: “Know what would be a good title for a movie starring Jared Leto? BOX OFFICE POISON!”
“That’s the thing that gets me. Jared Leto hasn’t been good in anything since like his fucking 20s. Why is he still getting all this work?” questioned another.
While a third commented: “He has some really bad dirt on a lot of people doesn’t he? Like why keep casting him otherwise especially since he’s only gotten worse and been in even worse performing movies!”
