After months of rumors, yesterday’s big news of the Joker origin film is finally green light, and starts shooting this September of 2018 It will be directed by Todd Phillips known for directing the Hangover trilogy, and Warhogs. The film will star Joaquin Phoenix who needs no introduction as the Joker. Here are my thoughts and questions about the standalone film.
No Martin Scorsese?
I’ve been paying attention to this standalone film, for awhile because Warner Brothers has been rumored to be doing standalone one off DC films that is not connecting to the DCEU. What’s surprising is the great Martin Scorsese’ s name was not attached as it has been rumored as producer. Martin’s been rumored for months as being attached with the origin standalone film as producer with Joaquin Phoenix. No explanation from Warner Brothers or from Scorsese’s people about why he’s not attached to the project. I find it a little concerning because my interest would be greater for this film if he was attached as producer or executive producer. I’m sure some rumors will swirl as to what happened between Warner Brothers and Martin Scorsese.
Joaquin Phoenix has been wanting to play The Joker!
Earlier today on Collider, Mr. Phoenix open up a little bit of the process of being a part of this project, and his awareness of the big shoes he will be fitting into. Here is Joaquin Phoenix quote from the interview below.
“I take a lot of time and consideration when making decisions and what I’m gonna work on always. So, in some ways, the process, which is obviously reading a script and meeting a filmmaker and then continuing to have meetings and discussions with Todd [Phillips]. I think he’s very impressive and he seems to have a very interesting understanding of this world and what he’s trying to say. And so there is something very appealing about that and working with him on this particular project. It feels unique, it is its own world in some ways, and maybe, mostly, it scares the fucking shit out of me or something. It might as well be the thing that scares you the most.” – Joaquin Phoenix
Another part of the Collider interview Mr. Phoenix said he spoke with Warner Brothers years ago about a Joker film. So he does have a vision as to how he wants to present or play his version of the Joker. Base on his quotes above from the interview he knows this will be a big challenge because of passed potrayls by the Great Heath Ledger, and Jack Nicholson whom define the role.
Who else will be cast in the film?
It’s been rumored for awhile that another great actor Robert De Niro, will be playing a mob boss in this film. No other casting has been announced yet. I expected between now and the end of August will be hearing casting announcements.
What kind of Joker origin story will be told?
We’ve seen many Joker origin stories in the comic books. What’s been rumored is the film will be a gritty crime story with some of Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke as influences on the standalone. Another long rumor is this will be set sometime in the 80s. The film base on the Collider interview by Joaquin Phoenix is said be a psychology take of the Joker.
Worth Mentioning
Over a decade ago, a story called Hush Returns was featured in a now canceled Batman Gotham Knight title book. The story featured some wrinkles to the Joker’ s origin from the Killing Joke. In the story Joker opens up to the Riddler and Pequin about how his wife was really killed in the Killing Joke story. It’s revealed the Joker knew his wife was actually murdered, and it was never an accident. This was the first time the Joker refrences his past life and is aware of who he used to be and has been secretly looking for the man who killed her. The Hush Rerurns wasn’t fully finished the way it was attended because of everything with Under the Redhood, Infinty Crisis, and the Omac stories all concluded and Batman Gotham Knight was cancelled going into One Year Later line.
OVERALL
I was never crazy about a Joker standalone film. To me he is at best when he is featured in a Batman movie. The Joker is the greatest comic book villain, because he doesn’t have a true origin story. However because a big name like Joaquin Phoenix is attached to play The Joker in his standalone film, does raise my interest in checking out this film. I expected we will be hearing a lot of rumors cycling this film between now and the first trailer.
My Comic Book Opinion 