Jared Leto plays Neander Wallace, a blind and corrupt replicant manufacturer in Blade Runner 2049. This is another important character on the heels of all the appreciation that poured for his performance as the Joker in Suicide Squad and as the HIV-positive Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club.
To get into the skin of his character as a vision-impaired villain, Leto decided to once again turn to method acting and spent the entire shoot trying to live without the benefit of sight.
The actor wore specially designed contact lenses that made his eyes look opaque while simultaneously prohibiting visibility. It also required that he be guided around the sets of the film.
Director Denis Villeneuve said in a recent interview: “I am always moved by the way actors bring their characters to life. They’re all different. They all have different techniques and Jared used to immerse himself into the character and make sure that every little detail is as close as possible to the character.”
Jared also reportedly spent a lot of time studying the behaviour of some of his visually-challenged friends, and paying close attention to their gestures. Apparently, he noticed that they have a different way of moving and has imbibed that into his performance. Blade Runner 2049 is to get released this Friday.