Director Todd Phillips is currently filming the new Joker movie in the streets of NYC where the first mention is made of Thomas Wayne, the father to Bruce Wayne, aka Batman.
The scene appears to be some sort of political demonstration where a riot breaks out, and Joaquin Phoenix and extras can be seen wearing clown masks, with Phoenix also sporting the makeup.
“Fascist Wayne is to blame,” one of the signs reads.
The scene also features some sort of fight as people seem to be scuffling on the ground.
“Fascist Wayne is to blame.” #OccupyGotham pic.twitter.com/4Sa1dsbmSp
— Rodrigo Perez – The Playlist (@YrOnlyHope) September 23, 2018
“Poverty is not a crime.” #OccupyGotham pic.twitter.com/3dTHRUh4B0
— Rodrigo Perez – The Playlist (@YrOnlyHope) September 23, 2018
Tylenol capsules were reintroduced in late ‘82. Here’s an ad from 1983 next to the set photo subway ad. #timeperiod #OccupyGotham #TheJoker pic.twitter.com/sdgINItOAR
— Rodrigo Perez – The Playlist (@YrOnlyHope) September 23, 2018
Regarding Thomas Wayne in the Joker movie, while in the comics and various interpretations he is a doctor and philanthropist, apparently in the Todd Phillips movie, the people of Gotham are blaming the Wayne family for their misfortune and think he is a “fascist.”
Actor Brett Cullen is playing Thomas Wayne in the movie following Alec Baldwin having dropped out of the role after it was discovered the character was described as a “a cheesy and tanned businessman who is more in the mold of a 1980s Donald Trump.” Baldwin didn’t like the fact he would be playing a “Trump” character, as he makes fun of the president on a regular basis on SNL.
I’m not too sure if the Trump comparisons hold up because in the 80s, cities comparable to Gotham (Rust Belt cities) lost a lot of steel jobs due to the influx of cheap foreign steel and other reasons, but President Trump is trying to level the playing field with tariffs, which would bring steel jobs back to the Unites States and curb copyright infringement and IP theft.
Now if Thomas Wayne is coming off as some sort of Ronald Reagan, who allowed the destruction of the steel industry and was against labor unions, I could see that.
Joaquin Phoenix Joker
The Joker origin movie centers around the iconic arch nemesis of Batman 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. The film follows the transformation of a struggling stand-up comedian to a full-blown criminal force of nature.
The movie stars Robert DeNiro as a talk show host; with Deadpool 2’s Zazie Beetz playing a single mom who catches the interest of the man who will become the clown prince of crime; Marc Maron is the agent responsible for getting the Joker on DeNiro’s talk show, with the film also starring Frances Conroy and Josh Pais.
Joker has an October 4, 2019 release date.
