Jared Leto denies starring in Urban Legend, though he played the male lead in the 1998 horror movie set on a college campus plagued by a killer inspired by classic urban myths. In a now-infamous interview with IGN, Leto repeatedly insisted he had no memory of the film, leaving both fans and the interviewer bemused by his refusal to acknowledge a significant early role, despite its place in his filmography.
Leto Distances Himself From His Role in the 1998 Slasher
Urban Legend arrived shortly after the wave of meta-slasher movies sparked by the popularity of Scream, following titles such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cherry Falls, and brought a self-aware edge to horror in the late 1990s. This particular entry centered on university students being hunted by a murderer who recreated notorious urban legends, including the notorious “killer in the backseat” scenario. Despite receiving only a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and accusations of being overly polished for true terror, Urban Legend is remembered as an entertaining showcase for several up-and-coming stars from that era.
Alicia Witt plays the protagonist, while a youthful cast rounds out the ensemble, including Joshua Jackson and Michael Rosenbaum. Jared Leto, as Paul, is the headstrong journalism student whose ambition—paired with his skepticism—places him squarely at the film’s suspenseful center, even making him a potential suspect as the body count rises among his classmates. The movie, while never becoming a horror classic, is regarded by many genre enthusiasts as an enjoyable time capsule of late-1990s slasher style.
Leto, who had only a handful of credits to his name before joining Urban Legend—having appeared in Switchback with Dennis Quaid—would soon move on to more serious cinematic fare. The years following the film saw him cast in celebrated projects, including Fight Club, American Psycho, and Requiem for a Dream. During a 2000 IGN interview about his burgeoning career, Leto was confronted with questions about Urban Legend—just two years after its release—and delivered a performance of denial that left the interviewer and fans perplexed.
Leto’s Interview: Repeated Denials and Jokes Amidst Questions
During the interview in question, IGN’s Spence D attempted several times to get Leto’s thoughts on Urban Legend, only to be met with confusion and repeated denials. Leto’s responses, presented below, show how he dodged each attempt to jog his memory about the movie:
IGN: When you did Urban Legend.
Jared Leto: What’s that?
IGN: That horror flick you did back in 1998.
JL: I didn’t do that.
IGN: Yeah you did. You were the college newspaper reporter…
JL: I was?
IGN: Yeah.
JL: Get the **** outta here! What are you talkin’ about [laughs].
IGN: Urban Legend, dude. That horror movie about urban myths with Rebecca Gayheart.
JL: I don’t even remember that.
IGN: Okay…obviously it wasn’t that good of an experience then.
JL: [laughs] I don’t even know what you’re talkin’ about dude.
IGN: You were the damn lead, this college newspaper reporter and all the kids in school were dying around you.
JL: That’s so weird. I’ve never even heard of that movie.
IGN: You’re kidding, right?
JL: No.
IGN: Alright, dude.
JL: [laughs]
IGN: Seems like you’ve erased a minor historical footnote in your burgeoning film career.
JL: I must of had a blackout [laughs].
Leto’s insistence on forgetting the project caught both the interviewer and readers off guard. IGN’s Spence D seemed to think the actor was joking, a notion that Leto continued to play up by denying again and again that he was involved, all while maintaining a joking tone. Despite the awkwardness, Leto avoided being intentionally cruel or dismissive; instead, he attempted to turn his evasions into comedy, perhaps as a way to cope with an experience he did not treasure.
After indicating that he had simply blacked out the experience, Leto eventually offered a brief, if cryptic, comment that suggested his true feelings about the film:
You live and you learn, you know what I mean?
This statement points to a sentiment of regret, with Leto perhaps seeing his part in Urban Legend as a misstep—harsh, considering the spectrum of work he has participated in since, yet understandable for someone seeking growth and respectability in a competitive industry like Hollywood.
Why Leto Sought Distance From His Early Horror Work
Between Urban Legend and his critically acclaimed turn in Requiem for a Dream, Leto worked under the direction of several highly respected auteurs, including Terrence Malick on The Thin Red Line and David Fincher on Fight Club. His performance as Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream was marked by grueling physical commitment, notably dramatic weight loss, and intense method acting—traits that would become hallmarks of his approach to roles.
The acclaim and expectation surrounding his work with directors like Darren Aronofsky likely motivated Leto to reframe his public persona away from commercial horror and towards more demanding, serious material. He may have seen Urban Legend as a mere entry-level opportunity to demonstrate his ability to carry a leading man role, but the film’s lukewarm critical reception made it an unlikely pillar for his reputation.
Every major movie Leto joined after his 1998 slasher—each helmed by a singular director and featuring provocative, layered characters—contributed to his carefully crafted image as one of Hollywood’s most committed method actors. Urban Legend’s character Paul, comparatively straightforward and less challenging, did not fit the new narrative Leto or his team appeared to be cultivating. It therefore makes sense he might want to leave the role in the past—especially given that he has never returned to similarly styled slashers, even as he has participated in horror-adjacent projects like Moebius or Haunted Mansion.
Currently, Leto’s future on screen includes leading parts in science fiction and fantasy films such as Tron: Ares and Masters of the Universe. Notably, discussions have surfaced about a possible Urban Legend reboot; however, it is widely assumed by fans that Leto will not join any legacy sequels. His detached, often aloof portrayal of Paul—combined with his candid, if humorous, downplaying of the original—suggests little personal or professional attachment to the project.
Reflections on Leto’s Selective Memory and the Film’s Place in Horror History
Jared Leto has developed a reputation in Hollywood for his eccentric approach to acting, embracing extreme preparation and method to deliver standout performances in films like Panic Room, Fight Club, and American Psycho. Yet, as demonstrated by the IGN incident, he isn’t above humorous evasiveness when it comes to less critically respected entries in his filmography.
Urban Legend sits in an interesting place in horror history—as a recognizable product of its era, it provided a platform for budding actors like Alicia Witt and Leto to display their talents, even if its critical legacy is uneven. Leto’s reaction during the interview underscores the uneasy relationship many actors have with projects that, while opening doors early in their careers, don’t necessarily reflect the work or artistic standards by which they wish to be known.
For horror movie fans, Urban Legend remains a cult favorite, offering suspense and nostalgia along with a memorable cast and creative nods to urban folktales. For Leto, however, the film seems to represent a chapter best forgotten, or at least laughed off in public. Whether or not he ever chooses to acknowledge his starring role in this infamous slasher, the IGN exchange has become an iconic moment in entertainment journalism, revealing as much about Leto’s conflicted artistic identity as it does about the sometimes uneasy path from genre film obscurity to Hollywood recognition.
