Joaquin Phoenix Rumored To Have ‘Crushed’ Joker Performance In DC Film

It sounds like Joker fans should start getting excited for the upcoming standalone film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime.

According to Justin Shanlian of the Shanlian on Batman podcast, Phoenix seems to have crushed his performance as the Joker in the film being director by Todd Phillips. Phillips co-wrote the script with Scott Silver and may have also nailed the character’s origin story per Shanlian.

The origin story is set to be a gritty and grounded crime film set in 1980s Gotham City, following Phoenix as Arthur Fleck: a failed 1980s comedian who becomes The Joker after bombing with audiences. The film has been officially described by the studio as an “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale.” It will serve as DC’s first film set outside the current cinematic universe.

Been told by many that #JoaquinPhoenix has crushed it as #TheJoker The more I hear about this project the more EXCITED I get for it! You're ALL in for a treat when this film is released in October! Heard that the script is incredible and they've nailed the character of #TheJoker pic.twitter.com/RysqRrFzY2 — Justin Shanlian (@BATMANShanlian) January 4, 2019

Directed by Todd Phillips from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham.

“Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.

Joker will be released in theaters on October 4, 2019. But before that Warner Bros. has Shazam! set to hit theaters on April 5, 2019, followed by Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5, 2020.

Joker is one of the many projects in the works at Warner Bros. and DC Films, including The Batman, The Flash standalone film, Green Lantern Corps, Black Adam, Supergirl, New Gods, Nightwing, a Deathstroke film, Justice League Dark, Batgirl, and Birds of Prey.

Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on the future of the DC slate as we learn it.

Source: Twitter