Jared Leto explains Thirty Seconds to Mars' new 'Rescue Me' music video

For the first time in 13 years, Jared Leto didn't direct one of Thirty Seconds to Mars' music videos -- and his reasoning makes complete sense.

The band released the visuals for its latest single, "Rescue Me," this week, which Jared Leto describes as "a song about pain, a song about empowerment, a song about faith and a song about freedom."

"It's also a song about the brutal war so many of us wage against fear, depression and anxiety in the hope that we might, one day, live a life filled with happiness and dreams," he added.

Directed by filmmaker Mark Romanek, the clip shows Leto and variety of other people -- including Leto's pal Paris Jackson -- having emotional and seemingly visceral reactions to the song's poignant lyrics (Rescue me from the demons in my mind). At one point, Jackson looks straight into the camera as tears stream down her face.

Leto handing over the power to Romanek represents a major departure for the star, which he called "a gift."

"I am very proud and grateful to have worked with one of my heroes -- the master filmmaker and director Mark Romanek," Leto said. "It's the first time in 13 years I haven't directed our videos. It was a gift to have him carry the weight so graciously and deliver something so profoundly simple and beautiful."

See photos of Jared Leto:

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