Today’s Movie Morsels has everything you need to turn this Monday… into a fun day!!! (Sorry, it was a long weekend.) Including word on the Joker’s origin in Suicide Squad, the latest on Stephen King’s It and Jumanji, and fresh footage of adorable panda cubs in Disney’s Born in China… See, you’re already smiling!

Suicide Squad

With DC Comics recently announcing that the Joker would be getting a definitive origin story in Justice League #50 (a move that I for one feel is a mistake, but there you go), many fans are wondering if Jared Leto’s take on the character will also get a point of origin in this summer’s Suicide Squad. Coming Soon took the question to the actor himself…

“I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about that so much,” says a smiling Leto. “But we walked in a completely new direction. I think we knew that we had to do that. It was important to do that. When the Joker has been done and done so well, it gives you a bit of an indication of where you shouldn’t go. There’s a bit of a map there. That’s the good part about it.”

Leto adds, “It’s quite an honor [to play the character]. Joker has been written about in pop culture for 75 years. I’m just the latest in the long list of people who have redefined and reinvented this character. The actors, the voice actors, the television series, the writers, the artists and the fans. People have taken the Joker and reinvented and redefined for 75 years. It is really special to be asked to do that.”

Margot Robbie also had a few words to tell the site about the film’s take on Harley Quinn.

“I did a lot of research on mental illness and codependency,” she says. “I was trying to access a way in to understanding why she’s so in love with the Joker. I kind of decided that she’s codependent on him. Now that I’ve done the research, I realize that that’s more of an addiction than an illness… You see many sides of her. Sometimes she’s really funny. Sometimes she’s really mean. She just enjoys everything she does. Whether she’s doing something good or bad, she’ll have an equal amount of enjoyment out of it. She’s not always the most likable character.”

[Coming Soon]

It

Warner Bros. has officially announced a new release date for the long-awaited feature film adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Pennywise the clown will give us nightmares once more on
September 8, 2017. The studio has also announced that its film adaptation of ’80s cop TV staple ChiPs will land a month before, on August 11, 2017.

[Warner Bros.]

Jumanji

Putting to rest all those who were worried they wouldn’t get the chance to see him tussle with mischievous CG chimpanzees, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has announced on Instagram that he will indeed be starring in the remake of Jumanji. Kevin Hart, meanwhile, remains in talks to co-star. The film is slotted for a July 28, 2017 release.

It’s OFFICIAL: Love this script! Big movie news that me and my canine gal Shang are excited to share;) To produce, create and deliver original properties to fans like HBO’s #ballers to this summer’s #CentralIntelligence is one of the best parts of my job. But to take great properties that are beloved worldwide like #BAYWATCH and #RAMPAGE and have the opportunity reimagine their stories in dope new ways to a whole new generation is truly an honor. It’s official. We’ll produce and deliver to a whole new generation a title that I love and is one of my all time favs: There’s games you play for fun… then there’s games that change your life. JUMANJI Working on edging up an already very good script with my @sevenbucksprod team. Up next is meeting with our producer Matt Tolmach and director Jake Kasdan. Shooting starts this fall. Promise to deliver something cool and special.. and not screw the whole damn thing up;). As always I’ll keep you posted. Casting this should be fun! #JUMANJI #JungleLife #JustPressStart #SONYPictures

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Apr 22, 2016 at 8:36am PDT

[Instagram]

Mechanic: Resurrection

Hey, speaking of the Rock… His Furious 7 sparring partner Jason Statham is looking as grittily determined as ever in the first image from his upcoming Mechanic sequel Mechanic: Resurrection. Jessica Alba co-stars alongside the flinty Brit, and yes, she too looks up for the endeavor…

[Coming Soon]

Born in China

In case you missed it last week… To celebrate Earth Day, Disney released the first trailer for its latest nature documentary, Born in China. Feast your eyes on some oh-so-adorable little pandas as well as other cute critters of the Far East…

[Disney]

What do you think of today’s top stories? Let us know below!

Featured Image: Warner Bros.

Images: Warner Bros., Summit