Joaquin Phoenix Is Officially Playing The Joker In A Standalone Film To Begin Shooting In NYC This Fall
Joaquin Phoenix, (You Were Never Really Here) is officially tapped to star as the Joker in The Hangover helmer Todd Philips’ new take on the DC Comics villain. Borys Kit’s Heat Vision blog confirmed news at The Hollywood Reporter with word that a September production start in New York City has been given a go from Warner Bros. Pictures.
Phillips is penning the script with Scott Silver for a story that will immerse the film into a grounded, 80-set crime drama millieu as opposed to that of a comic book. As Kit notes in his report on Tuesday, the film’s narrative will deliver an “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.”
Phoenix’s official attachment to the role comes following news in February when the actor spoke to French press claiming to not have known about the film at the time. Emma Tillinger Koskoff (The Wolf of Wall Street) is producing the film with Richard Baratta executive producing for a to-be-announced DC film production shingle at the studio that will further expand the playing field for other potential DC characters and storied currently not sharing space with the likes of Wonder Woman, Justice League and upcoming Aquaman.
Phillips’ movie still stands apart from that of the one being developed for actor Jared Leto following his portrayal in Suicide Squad.
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