ONE ON ONE with JARED LETO

How did you become involved in the production side of CHAPTER 27? Were you cast in the role first, or were you involved in production from the beginning?

It all happened simultaneously. It was an unique opportunity to participate in a different way. But my main focus was the definitely the role. Secondary was helping, if I could, to bring the directors vision to life. The producers were very kind to let me apprentice, in a way, throughout the process.

You obviously put on a lot of weight for your role as Mark David Chapman. Was that a difficult decision to make? Why did you choose not to just wear a “fatsuit”?

It wasn't a difficult decision at all.

I would say the difficulty came after the decision was made. It was important to take on the physical challenges of this transformational experience and well as the psychological/emotional. The weight helped indicate many things about the character for me. Although it was a very important and obvious part of the process it was still just one part of the overall journey. And one that I am definitely very happy to be finished with.

You also adopted a sort of whiny, southern accent for the role. Did you have to watch footage of Mark David Chapman to really take on his persona accurately?

His voice was very specific. Jarrett and I spent a lot of time discussing his voice and the importance of including it in the performance. I spend most days for months listening to archival tapes and interviews of his voice. Also while in decatur georgia I found someone who had a very similar accent. That proved invaluable.

Yes, archival footage was very important and very helpful. It taught me a lot about who he was. I studied everything I could about his behavior from the inside to the out.

PRESS QUOTES

“Jared Leto is mesmeric as the bloated, deranged Chapman.
It's a brilliantly measured performance, evincing the tale of a madman
through his own awful rhyme and reason.”
– Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter

"Jared Leto disappears inside this angry,
mouthbreathing psycho geek with a conviction
that had me hanging on his every delusion."
– Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly