Meet the cast of 'Suicide Squad'

Oscar winner Jared Leto was recently confirmed to play the Joker in the upcoming film "Suicide Squad," set for release August 5, 2016. Here are some of our other favorite faces from Marvel's world:

Fan favorite Harley Quinn will be portrayed by Margot Robbie in "Suicide Squad."

Will Smith will play the antihero, gun-toting Deadshot in "Suicide Squad."

Idris Elba let it slip in an interview that he'll appear in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" as his "Thor" character, Heimdall.

At Marvel's presentation Tuesday, the studio announced that "42" star Chadwick Boseman will play the comic-book hero Black Panther, who will be key to the plot of the forthcoming "Captain America: Civil War." He's the latest in a line of fascinating superheroes.

Rumor has it that Benedict Cumberbatch is in negotiations to play Marvel's Doctor Strange, but Marvel kept mum at its announcement. Still, the film is due out in 2016.

The first "Avengers" movie, released in 2012, is the third highest-grossing movie of all time -- and a new one, "Age of Ultron," is due out next summer. The trailer already has people buzzing. Two more will come out in 2018 and 2019.

Robert Downey Jr. brought Tony Stark's Iron Man to life in 2008. There have been two sequels, and Iron Man was a major star in "The Avengers."

Mark Ruffalo got to wear the Hulk's stretchy purple pants in "The Avengers," and he will be in the sequel as well. Eric Bana and Edward Norton played the character in two previous movies: "Hulk" (2003) and "The Incredible Hulk" (2008).

Following in Tobey Maguire's footsteps -- err, spider webs -- Andrew Garfield starred in 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man." He also played the part in a sequel this year.

Halle Berry's Storm and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine became fan favorites when "X-Men" hit theaters in 2000. The pair have also appeared in the series' many sequels, including "X-Men: Days of Future Past" this year. (Wolverine has even had two movies of his own.)

The late Christopher Reeve, pictured, wore the red cape in 1978's "Superman" and its three sequels. Brandon Routh took over in 2006's "Superman Returns," and Henry Cavill starred in 2013's "Man of Steel."

Chris Evans, who first donned red, white and blue for 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger," continued his fight against evil in "The Avengers." He reprised his role this year in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and he'll be in the second Avengers.

Following Michael Keaton in 1989 (and 1992), Val Kilmer in 1995 and George Clooney in 1997, Christian Bale drove the Batmobile for all three of the Batman movies directed by Christopher Nolan.

Chris Hemsworth played Thor in the 2011 film of the same name. There was also a sequel in 2013, and Thor, of course, is one of the Avengers.

Ron Perlman went red for Guillermo del Toro's "Hellboy" in 2004 and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" in 2008.

"Captain America" wasn't Chris Evans' first time battling evil in a form-fitting blue suit. Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis were the "Fantastic Four" in 2005. They teamed up again in a 2007 sequel.

Ryan Reynolds became the Green Lantern in 2011.

Mikey Kelley, James Arnold Taylor, Nolan North and Mitchell Whitfield voiced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2007's "TMNT." Everyone's favorite pizza-eating reptiles returned this year in a live-action reboot.

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• Long-rumored cast for comic book film 'Suicide Squad' confirmed


• Jared Leto will play the Joker, Will Smith cast as antihero Deadshot


• Margot Robbie will portray fan favorite Harley Quinn

(CNN) -- This news will bring a smile to the face of many Jared Leto fans.

The Oscar-winning actor has been cast to play the Joker in "Suicide Squad," based on the DC Comics series, due in theaters on August 5, 2016.

Jared Leto backstage after Oscars win

Leto: Anybody want to fondle Oscar?

Warner Bros. Pictures (owned by Time Warner, just like CNN) confirmed the long-rumored casting on Tuesday.

Not to be outdone, Leto will be joined in the cast by Will Smith, who will portray the antihero Deadshot, while Margot Robbie is playing the Joker's girlfriend, Harley Quinn, a fan favorite.

Tom Hardy -- best known as Bane from "The Dark Knight Rises" -- returns to the world of comic book movies as Rick Flagg.

Rounding out the cast are Jai Courtney as Boomerang and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.

David Ayer -- writer of "The Fast and the Furious" and "Training Day" -- will write "Suicide Squad" and take the director's chair, as previously announced.

"We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under Ayer's amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero," said Greg Silverman, president of Creative Development and Worldwide Production for Warner Bros.

With Leto sure to relish the role of the Clown Prince of Crime, and Smith stepping out of the role of hero, this will be an interesting one to watch.