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Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play the Joker in an origin story of the iconic Batman villain mounted by Todd Phillips, according to media reports. Phillips will direct as well as co-write the film with Scott Silver.

Variety, who broke the news, says Phillips and Phoenix have an agreement for the actor to play the role, though formal negotiations are not yet underway. Warner Bros had no comment on the news.

The film falls under the yet to be announced banner of DC Comics, which gives the studio the opportunity to expand the canon of the crazy comic book character with story angles that aren’t included in its current cinematic universe.

The most recent portrayal of the Joker comes from Jared Leto in 2016’s Suicide Squad with Leto more than likely to reprise the role in Suicide Squad 2. Leonardo Dicaprio was the first person approached to star in Phillip’s standalone film, but that didn’t pan out.

Phoenix is best known for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic Walk The Line. The actor had two films premiere at Sundance this year, the biographical drama Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot and Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here. He is represented by WME.

Linda Ge | TV Editor