Zazie Beetz in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in Joker

Fresh off her Emmy nomination for the hit comedy series Atlanta, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that actress Zazie Beetz is in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in the upcoming Joker. The outlet notes that details are being kept under wraps but Beetz would play “a single mother who catches the interest of the man who will become the Clown Prince of Crime.” Fans will also recognize Beetz for her portrayal of Domino in this year’s Deadpool 2, she’s expected to reprise that role in the X-Force movie as well.

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Under the direction of Todd Phillips (The Hangover franchise), the new film centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.

Phillips will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with writer Scott Silver (The Fighter). The film will be produced by Emma Tillinger Koskoff and executive produced by Richard Baratta and begins production later this year. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Joker is set to debut in theaters on October 4, 2019. On that release date the film will go up against Paramount’s Gemini Man from director Ang Lee and Fox’s thriller The Woman in the Window starring Amy Adams.

Warner Bros. is also reportedly in development on a separate Joker feature film which would star Jared Leto as the villain, reprising his role from Suicide Squad

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