Now that the Joker origin film is officially a go at Warner Bros., let’s just say that fans have had some rather interesting things to say about something that hasn’t even begun shooting. Granted, the DC Extended Universe hasn’t had the greatest of track records to date, but do remember that this’ll be a different beast entirely.
Personally, I’m of two minds on the subject because the picture could indeed go either way, though Joaquin Phoenix has never been known to approach a role lightly, and has already opened up about why he took this particular gig. Regardless of where you stand on the project, though, it’s definitely happening and to make things officially official, WB has now handed the pic a title – Joker – along with a release date to call its own: October 4th, 2019.
That’s in just over a year from now, which means that they’re hoping to get things together rather quickly. And with production set to begin in New York City this September, we imagine casting news and the like will start trickling in over the next few weeks as WB looks to fill out the film’s ensemble.
Plot details for the Joker pic (Phoenix’s, not Leto’s) are practically non-existent at this point, and understandably so, but the studio’s described it as a “gritty character study,” with the official synopsis reading as so:
Under the direction of Todd Phillips, the film centers around the iconic arch nemesis 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 Killing Joke is said to have been earmarked for inspiration, though we imagine Todd Phillips and Co. already had a rough story outline in place – otherwise they would’ve risked losing Joaquin Phoenix. Alas, the same can’t be said for two-time Academy Award winner Frances McDormand, who supposedly “passed on playing Phoenix’s mom” in the untitled origin movie late last week. Oh, what could have been.
Even if that really is the case, and the Three Billboards actress opted to pass on Joker, this is still a project teeming with potential. And you can readily expect all the latest updates as Warner’s spinoff begins to gain a sense of momentum.