He's creating an origin story for DC Comics villain The Joker under the direction of filmmaker Todd Phillips.

And on Wednesday, Joaquin Phoenix cut a solitary figure as he filmed scenes for the movie on location in New York City.

The actor, dressed in character as Arthur, sat on a bench outside the Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan smoking a cigarette before getting up and pacing up and down.

Lonely: He's creating an origin story for DC Comics villain The Joker and Wednesday, Joaquin Phoenix cut a solitary figure as he filmed scenes for the movie on location in New York City

His character wears a brown cardigan over a shirt along with a hooded light brown jacket and trousers with socks and shoes.

The actor, 43, has grown a shaggy hair style and appears to have lost weight for the role which explores how the comic book villain came to be.

In photos taken on set since principal photography began, Phoenix as Arthur seems to be a man who is worn down and sad and living a solitary existence.

The actor, dressed in character as Arthur, paced up and down puffing on a cigarette outside the Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan.

Filming: For one shot, he was seen walking up to an 'exit only' glass door of the hospital

Focused: In between takes, Phoenix was seen chatting with an assistant as crew members set up the shot inside the emergency room

Earlier this month, Phillips, whose credits include The Hangover movies and Due Date, shared an equally moody shot of himself to announce that principal photography was beginning on The Joker.

The origin story - which is due for release on October 4, 2019 - sees Joaquin in the titular role despite Jared Leto most recently playing The Joker in Suicide Squad.

The movie has Martin Scorsese as one of its producers and Robert De Niro is set to be in the movie as 'a talk show host who is somehow instrumental in the Joker’s origin', according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Deadpool 2 actress Zazie Beetz plays 'a single mother who catches the interest of the man who will become the clown prince of crime,' THR.com also reported.

Revealed: On September 24, director Todd Phillips posted to Instagram the first look of Phoenix in full makeup as the Joker