JOKER Director Todd Phillips Addresses Rumors That He Wanted Leonard DiCaprio To Play The Villain

JOKER Director Todd Phillips Addresses Rumors That He Wanted Leonard DiCaprio To Play The Villain

A few years ago, it was reported that Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) was being eyed to play The Joker, & Todd Phillips has responded to that while revealing why he cast Joaquin Phoenix.

By JoshWilding - Sep 11, 2019 06:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Joker
Source: The New York Times
In a new interview, Joker writer and director Todd Phillips has revealed that the movie was always written with Joaquin Phoenix in mind, and that no one else was ever in the running to play the villain.

As you may recall, Leonardo DiCaprio was once rumoured to take on the role of the Clown Prince of Crime, but the filmmaker has now confirmed that he was never being eyed for Joker as, "We wrote the movie for Joaquin." However, it wasn't exactly an easy task to convince Phoenix to sign on. "He was not keen on jumping into costume in any comic-book movie," Phillips admitted.
 
"I kept waiting for him to just say, ‘O.K., I’m in,’ And he never did that," he continued. "You just never get a yes. All you get is more questions. It wasn’t an easy decision, but [Phillips] kept saying, ‘Let’s just be bold. Let’s do something.’"

The New York Times notes that it took three months of Phillips repeatedly visiting Phoenix at home to win him over, and they often disagreed about how the character should be portrayed. Phoenix viewed The Joker as a heavy-set character while the filmmaker envisioned him as being extremely thin. Ultimately, Philips won his star over, and, based on what we've seen, it was a smart move.

What do you guys think of these comments from the Joker director?

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soberchimera
soberchimera - 9/11/2019, 6:44 AM
Dropped down to 77% on RT.
DetectiveCinema
DetectiveCinema - 9/11/2019, 6:45 AM
While I'm sure DiCaprio would have given a great take on The Joker, I'm glad it's Phoenix in the role. If DiCpario were to play a DC Comics character the only role I can kind of see him in would be Oliver Queen.
Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 9/11/2019, 6:46 AM
"He was not keen on jumping into costume in any comic-book movie,"

Yet this almost happened.




Just give an actor the right character and material and you can probably convince any Actor to be in a CBM.
TheMaster2011
TheMaster2011 - 9/11/2019, 8:38 AM
@Mrcool210 -But it didn't happen. And that experience with Marvel is most likely what's turned him off from doing traditional comic book movies.
Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 9/11/2019, 6:52 AM
And I'm honestly really glad Phoenix got the part. Leo looks weird to me as Joker. I just can't see it.

L0RDbuckethead
L0RDbuckethead - 9/11/2019, 4:16 PM
@Mrcool210 - I totally agree. I think it's because of Leo's round(ish) face. The best comic iterations of the Joker have had a slimmer, longer head shape.
Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 9/11/2019, 7:06 AM
@TheDoctor1225 - I could have sworn they got pretty close. Like he wanted to do it in July but then it wasn't until October that he changed his mind. Could have swoen there was even a story of him buying a shit ton of Doctor Strange comics.

Hearing stuff like that makes me think it was pretty close.
KWilly
KWilly - 9/11/2019, 7:28 AM
Yeah, why not?

tmp3
tmp3 - 9/11/2019, 7:37 AM
DiCaprio left Sorkin's Steve Jobs and then ended up (undeservedly) beating Michael Fassbender for an Oscar that year. Might be the opposite here, where Phoenix beats DiCaprio since they both look like they're gonna be nominated.
tmp3
tmp3 - 9/11/2019, 7:40 AM
Who would have been Rick [frick]ing Dalton then if DiCaprio did this?
Havenless
Havenless - 9/11/2019, 10:22 AM
@tmp3 - Joaquin
tmp3
tmp3 - 9/11/2019, 10:24 AM
@Havenless - Hahaha, would have been wild. His role in Inherent Vice was kind of a similar vibe I guess? Tom Cruise would have been Cliff Booth?
Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 9/11/2019, 7:43 AM
@SuperDude001 - Leo would definetely play a good Stan Lee. Still kind of hoping for Cranston to do it too though.

BigMikeReviews
BigMikeReviews - 9/11/2019, 8:05 AM
From what I gather alot of negative reviewers are more interested in moral grandstanding on what kind of "art" should be allowed into pop culture than actually reviewing the contents of the film in question
SgtSoggybottom
SgtSoggybottom - 9/11/2019, 8:08 AM
Have the leak links been removed?
Webheaded225
Webheaded225 - 9/11/2019, 8:21 AM
@PlusUltra - There was nothing like Heath Ledger's Joker until The Dark Knight came out too, though. Joker's been reinvented and changed all the time, i don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. Mark Hammil's Joker is my favorite version, but i know that'll never be on the big screen.
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