Joaquin Phoenix In Talks To Play THE JOKER In Todd Phillips' Standalone DC Movie
Jared Leto may be the Clown Prince of Crime in the DC Films Universe but it's been revealed today that Joaquin Phoenix (Her) is pretty much set to take on the role of the villain in a standalone movie.
Well, here's an unexpected piece of news! It was reported quite some time ago that Warner Bros. is developing a standalone movie for The Joker delving into the iconic villain's origin story and Variety now reports that Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play the Clown Prince of Crime. Studio negotiations haven't begun yet but he's said to be co-writer/director Todd Phillips' top choice and has agreed to take on the role. Jared Leto, meanwhile, is expected to reprise the role in Suicide Squad 2 later this year.
This isn't the first time Phoenix has flirted with a superhero movie role as he nearly played Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the Sorcerer Supreme in Marvel's Doctor Strange.
Leonardo DiCaprio was initially approached for the role but that didn't pan out. Phillips met with Phoenix lat last year and he's now just waiting for the studio to make it official. The trade also confirms that Scott Silver will join him as co-writer in a movie which is set to, "delve into what it took for the Joker to become a mastermind criminal." As was reported, they add that, "sources say the story will take place in the ’80s and have more of the look of a gritty crime drama than comic-book movie."
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