Lots of little tidbits and photos have been popping up recently for the new standalone Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix. Now, with recent cast signings, we have a full and official cast list for the unique and lower budget take on the super hero movie genre. Warner Bros. has let out a press release for the October 2019 film:
Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ Joker, starring Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, alongside Oscar winner Robert De Niro, and directed, produced and co-written by Oscar nominee Todd Phillips.
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). The film also stars Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Bill Camp (Red Sparrow, Molly’s Game), Frances Conroy (American Horror Story, Castle Rock), Brett Cullen (42, Narcos), Glenn Fleshler (Billions, Barry), Douglas Hodge (Red Sparrow, Penny Dreadful), Marc Maron (Maron, GLOW), Josh Pais (Motherless Brooklyn, Going in Style), and Shea Whigham (First Man, Kong: Skull Island).
Between their lead actor, Phoenix, being an amazing method actor with tons of range, a unique choice for director (comedic director Todd Phillips, of Hangover fame), a stellar producer in Martin Scorsese, and the addition of legendary actor, Robert De Niro, this film with stand apart from WB’s current DC properties not only in terms of universes, but also in tone, structure and content. This film seems to be taking its notes from the classic story, The Killing Joke, with Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck being a failed stand up comic heading down the wrong path.
This film will be more of a dark and gritty crime drama, veering away from WB and DC’s upcoming run of lighter and more epic blockbuster hero flicks, like Aquaman, Shazam!, & Wonder Woman 84. DC is trying to reinvigorate their films after some dismal box office returns on Batman v Superman and Justice League, which includes a new, lighter tone to their connected films as well as several side projects with classic characters not connected to their current run, giving different perspectives to fan favorites.
After the not so great response to the flashy, tattooed, gangster look of Jared Leto’s Clown Prince of Crime, fans have high hopes for Phoenix’s take on the arguably the most popular comic book villain of all time.
What do you think of this take on the Joker? Let us know in the comments below!