A first look at Joaquin Phoenix in his Joker makeup from the character's new original film has been revealed.

Director Todd Phillips shared a screen test of Phoenix in his role as the iconic DC villain, which sees the actor in civilian clothes crack a smile to the camera, while flashes of him in full-Joker mode appear on screen.

Phillips previously revealed that Phoenix's Joker – named Arthur – will be noticeably different to the comic book version fans are familiar with. The film, simply titled Joker, promises to be an “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale”.

Plot details remain thin on the ground, but the standalone film will reportedly take place in the fictional Gotham City during the 1980s, and may see Phoenix's Arthur start off as a struggling comedian – a nod to King of Comedy, which was directed by Joker producer Martin Scorsese.

Joker has a budget of $55 million, which is significantly less than Warner Bros' other comic-book adaptations. The lowest budget recent DC movie is Wonder Woman, at $149 million, while the highest was 2017's Justice League, which had a budget of $300 million.

Despite the lesser budget, the film still boasts an impressive cast. Phoenix set to be joined by Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Marc Maron. Joker will be released in cinemas 4 October 2019.