It has been a moment since we heard about the standalone origin movie being pitched for the Joker, albeit Leonardo DiCaprio being eyed for the role at one point. But now it seems Warner Bros. has officially given the feature the green light, naming the actor set to play the Clown Prince of Crime – Joaquin Phoenix.
The actor closed the deal to star as the titular DC villain in the new standalone film, which is set to begin production this September. Given the pitch for the film, and the intense actor Phoenix is, it feels like they are going for a tense, Alan Moore-esque tragic story. Reportedly set in the 1980’s, the Joker tale will be “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale”.
And with this news as well as the fact that the origin film will exist outside the current direction (lightly-used term) of the DCU, this looks like a silver lining in the overcast skies over at DC.
What you guys think? Happy to see Joaquin Phoenix as the infamous Joker?! Tell us in the comment section + via Twitter @TheActionPixel and on Facebook