Variety is reporting that DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have given the green light for a stand-alone Joker film. Todd Phillips (The Hangover) will direct and Joaquin Phoenix will take the title role. Check out what Variety had to say below!
From Variety: "Warner Bros. has given the go-ahead on Todd Phillips’ “Joker” origin film with Joaquin Phoenix closing his deal to star. Variety first reported that Phoenix was in talks to play the Clown Prince of Crime. As soon as his deal was finalized, the studio gave the green light to a September start date with a budget in the moderate $55 million dollar range. Phillips (“The Hangover” franchise) is on board to co-write and direct the movie." Read the full story HERE.
AFJ's Take: So the DC shift between characters, actors, and films has begun. Years ago, we all would have said this was impossible, but now it appears as if we will have two Jokers, Phoenix and Jared Leto (Suicide Squad). This could actually be the turn around for the entire Warner Bros./ DC Entertainment franchise. They need to escape the Zack Snyder universe and start blazing a new path. I applaud the casting of Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker and hiring of Todd Phillips to direct. Both men can go very dark when they need to and this character hasn't seen the likes of that since Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008). My only caveat to that is, can you have a Joker movie without Batman? Obviously, they will need cast the Dark Knight, so who will play that character? See the mess is still there Warner Bros. Better yet, will John Q. Public accept two Jokers on the big screen at the same time?