Joaquin Phoenix is Joking
A New Iteration of an Iconic Villain In JOKER
What is it about villainous characters that we love? Is it that sometimes they reflect our darkest urges, giving us an outlet to view such horrors without becoming embroiled in evil ourselves? Is it that they fascinate us, we want to understand what makes them who they are? Is it our need to find a reason for evil? Whatever it is, we love a good supervillain, and who do we love more than The Joker? There’ve been many screen portrayals of The Joker over the years, some, like Heath Ledger’s and Jack Nicholson’s have been iconic, while others have been lacking, now it’s Joaquin Phoenix’s turn to fill on the clown shoes. In the upcoming movie Joker—a standalone film from the rest of the DC extended universe—Phoenix delves into the origin story of the titular villain.
Set in 1981, Joker follows Arthur Fleck, a failed and impoverished stand-up comedian in Gotham City as he gradually descends into madness, eventually turning into the psychopathic murderer we all know (and love.) According to an official description put out by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film “is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale”
Although this film will focus predominantly on how The Joker became The Joker and not on his years as Batman’s most infamous enemy, a young Bruce Wayne and Alfred will reportedly appear in the movie. From the official trailer this film looks like it will be an entirely fresh take on a classic. Additionally, the trailer gives off some very retro neo-noir vibes.
Joker was written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver and directed by Todd Phillips. In addition to Phoenix, it stars Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy. Joker comes out in theaters October 4, 2019. Until then, check out the trailer and all the crazy fan theories that are sure to pop up.