Jared Leto lost a major role in political thriller “Assassination” amid sexual misconduct allegations, multiple sources close to production exclusively told Page Six.
Sources allege the “Dallas Buyers Club” star was in advanced talks to join “Rain Man” director Barry Levinson’s “Assassination” in 2025 before production ultimately passed on casting the actor amid mounting sexual misconduct allegations.
Leto was reportedly “extremely interested” in joining the film and had been in ongoing conversations with Levinson about the role — with one source describing the casting as “seeming like a done deal.”
But behind the scenes, production executives and Levinson were reportedly aware of allegations surrounding Leto and had discussed them internally before initial talks began with the actor.
However, a source close to production claimed the Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman ultimately lost the role when the increasing number of sexual misconduct allegations became impossible to ignore.
Another source with insider knowledge recalled that the dismal performance of 2025 sci-fi “Tron: Ares” may have also contributed to the decision not to move forward with Leto, but added, “That may have been an excuse to drop him from the project” after a 2025 Air Mail article in which Leto was accused of sexual impropriety by nine women.
“Assassination,” which stars Bryan Cranston and Brendan Fraser, follows the true story of journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, who died under mysterious circumstances while investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Production on “Assassination” was previously delayed by a lawsuit filed by co-writer and producer Nicholas Celozzi — though the Barry Levinson-directed political thriller is expected to move forward.
There has been no word on who, if anyone — will replace Leto — and the film has yet to receive a release date.
Earlier this week, the BBC documentary “Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret” premiered, featuring ten women who detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against Leto.
The accusations by the women in the documentary occurred between 2002 and 2016, while they were between the ages of 16 and 18. At the time, Leto was in his 30s and 40s.
While the documentary and last year’s Air Mail article have brought renewed attention to the allegations against Leto, it is not the first time the actor has faced accusations of sexual impropriety.
The New York Post first reported that Jared Leto was “aggressively pursuing” teen models back in 2005.
Jared Leto has repeatedly maintained his innocence, denying the allegations made in Air Mail, as well as the more recent accusations from “Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret.”
Representatives for Leto did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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