It’s reported that Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play the Joker.
According to Variety, Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play Joker in Warner Bros. and Todd Phillips’ untitled Joker origin standalone movie.
The report states that while negotiations haven’t yet started, Todd Phillips has made it clear that Joaquin Phoenix is his top choice to play the Joker.
It’s further said that after thinking it over, Joaquin Phoenix has agreed to play the Joker role.
Todd Phillips is writing and directing the new standalone Joker movie, with Phillips having met with Joaquin Phoenix before the new year.
The Joker standalone movie is not a part of the DCEU slate of films, and Jared Leto is still set to play the Joker in the DCEU with his next appearance looking likely for Suicide Squad 2.
As noted, the Joker standalone movie will be a part of a yet-to-be-announced new banner of DC Comics movies, “which would give the studio the opportunity to expand the canon of the iconic comic-book characters with unique story angles that aren’t included in its current cinematic universe.”
It’s also said that Leonardo DiCaprio was courted for the Joker role, but that didn’t pan out.
The Todd Philips Joker movie is also being co-written by Scott Silver which is said to “delve into what it took for the Joker to become a mastermind criminal,” and that the movie will “take place in the ’80s and have more of the look of a gritty crime drama than comic-book movie.”
Joaquin Phoenix was also up to play Lex Luthor in Batman vs. Superman and Doctor Strange for Marvel, but passed on those roles.
