Yesterday, the first photos from the set of Joker surfaced and with them came a first official look at Joaquin Phoenix's "Arthur" courtesy of director Todd Phillips. Needless to say, that sneak peek has got fans talking and it's quite a different image to the one we got of Jared Leto's Clown Prince of Crime in Suicide Squad (despite that, it's still every bit as controversial but for somewhat different reasons).
Now, we're breaking down all the biggest spoilers, rumours, and confirmed details about Joker to bring you a definitive guide about what to expect in the DC Comics adaptation which is set to serve as a standalone origin story for the iconic Batman villain. Whether or not the Caped Crusader will appear remains to be seen but for now, it appears as if the focus will remain firmly on Phoenix's Joker.
So, to check out this breakdown, all you guys have to do is click on the "View List" button below.
The Joker May Be Thomas Wayne's Bastard Son
While nothing has been confirmed in this respect, leaked character breakdowns have confirmed that The Joker's mother was extremely attractive in her youth and is now obsessed with her former employer, someone who may very well have impregnated her. Can you see where this is going? Yes, the prevailing theory is that we'll learn Thomas Wayne is actually the Clown Prince of Crime's father!
Arthur Fleck
Warner Bros. has done the unthinkable and given The Joker a name: Arthur Fleck. Based on what little we know about him, Fleck returns to Gotham City to care for his ageing mother and after moving into her apartment, he meets Sophie Dumont (someone we'll tell you more about later on). It seems the movie is following the comics to at least a certain extent as he'll be a wannabe stand up comedian.
How Thomas Wayne Will Be Portrayed
Because Joker takes place from the point of view of Arthur, it sounds like that will have an impact on how certain characters are portrayed and may even lead to a slightly heightened take on proceedings. Batman's father is described as "cheesy, tanned" and rich-looking. He'll also be in his 60s so that has to mean Bruce is around at this stage, something which hasn't actually been confirmed by anyone yet.
It Doesn't Have A Huge Budget
Joker is the first of a new wave of DC Comics movies which will stand by themselves and won't be tied to the Justice League in any way. That means it's free from continuity and seemingly a sign that it won't have to adhere too closely to the comic books as we'll be getting something a little more...original? Time will tell on that front but with a budget of only $55 million, don't expect a huge CGI-fest here.
Zazie Beetz Is Sophie Dumond
Who? Sophie isn't a character from the comic books but she is someone who will be very important to Arthur Fleck in this movie. In fact, it sounds like she'll be a love interest of sorts and it could be that the heartbreak he endures because of her is what leads to his descent into madness. Regardless, she's described as being a single mother struggling to make ends meet and worn out by the grind of the city.
The Joker's Enemy
It's probably safe to assume that we won't see Batman make an appearance here and even if he does, it's unlikely to be for very long. However, the Clown Prince of Crime could have another foe of sorts in the form of Murray Franklin, a late-night TV host who many fans will humiliate Arthur in some way when he attempts to land a role on there. Murray will be played by the amazing Robert DeNiro.
Alec Baldwin Is No Longer Playing Thomas Wayne
The day after being cast as Thomas Wayne, Alec Baldwin announced that scheduling issues had resulted in him having to depart the DC Comics adaptation. However, it appears as if he didn't like the direction Todd Phillips was taking the character in because it sounds like he may have been asked to play a caricature not all that different to his performance as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.
This Isn't The Only Joker Movie In The Works
Warner Bros. has no plans to bring Superman back to the big screen but we're getting more than one movie about The Joker. Makes sense, right? Regardless, it's been confirmed that a standalone movie for Jared Leto's version of the iconic villain is still in the works but whether or not that will happen and is separate to the planned Joker vs. Harley Quinn spinoff isn't clear but that could be three we're getting!
Arthur's Crazy (?) Mother
As we mentioned above, Arthur comes back to Gotham City to care for his mother so how much do you want to bet she's unhinged, overbearing, and someone he probably ends up killing? It's said she can't believe what her life has come to and she's bedridden due to her failing health. Not much is known about her relationship with her son but common sense says we could see it worsen here.
Marc Maron's Role Revealed
Not too long ago, we learned that GLOW star Marc Maron had joined the cast of Joker but it's since been revealed that he will be taking on the role of a producer. That producer - while unnamed - has worked for Robert DeNiro's talk show host for a number of years and it's said that Maron will have only a very minor role in proceedings and most of his scenes will be with his legendary co-star in the film.
The Movie's Locations
This isn't overly revealing but it's said that a number of sets are being built for Joker, including a hotel, a bank, a "Good Morning" TV show, and mental hospital. It's easy to imagine the latter being Arkham Asylum and that could even be where Fleck winds up depending on how the story pans out. Either way, the first lot of set photos have revealed at least one iconic Gotham City location: Amusement Mile.
The Supporting Cast
A number of actors and characters have been confirmed for the movie, including Frances Conroy and Josh Pais, along with at least a couple of police detectives. That doesn't tell us much and it doesn't appear as if we're getting too many familiar faces from the comic books but don't be surprised if at least some well-known names make some surprise appearances throughout the course of this tale.
It's A "Cautionary Tale"
It's no secret that Joker will follow Fleck's descent into madness and the movie has been described as the "exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale." Presumably, that means we can expect to see the future villain make some big mistakes as his life unravels and he goes from stand up comic to totally unhinged madman.
It Will Be Set In The 1980s
Further distancing itself from what's happening in the DC Extended Universe, it's said that the movie will take place in the 1980s, something which should ensure it has a very different feel and one which fits into the tone set by The Killing Joke during the same period. Martin Scorcese - a producer on the project - is said to be an influence too so expect Todd Philips to take inspiration from Taxi Driver.
The New Thomas Wayne
We mentioned that Alec Baldwin is no longer playing Thomas Wayne but a replacement has now been found in the form of Brett Cullen. He's perhaps best known for The Dark Knight Rises and Narcos and is obviously nowhere near as well-known as his predecessor. Whether or not this signals a change in direction for the character is hard to say but it feels like we're getting a clean slate in the movie.
The Rating
Something which hasn't been made clear is whether or not Joker will end up being R-Rated. Given the cast and adult nature of the Clown Prince of Crime's origin story, it wouldn't be at all surprising if a more adult orientated approach is taken, especially with Todd Phillips (the man behind The Hangover trilogy) at the helm. Time will tell but avoiding PG-13 will also help distance this from other DC movies.
It's Not A "Superhero Movie"
"I wouldn’t say it’s a superhero movie, or a studio movie or a...It feels unique," says Phoenix about Joker, a movie which definitely sounds like it will be a far cry from the other DC Comics adaptations we've seen from the studio in recent years. He also promises that we should expect to see "incredible characters that are dealing with real-life struggles" and so it sounds like this will be very grounded.
The Release Date
Joker has only just started production but like most low budget movies, it's not going to take long until work is complete. A release date of October 4th, 2019 has already been set and that means we should start seeing some official material from this one sooner rather than later with a trailer a very real possibility either later this year or early next. I guess we'll just have to wait and see for now, though.
I'm really not sure what to say about this. I've seen some pretty ridiculous claims on social media that this image looks like something out of a Martin Scorsese or Stanley Kubrick film and that's perhaps the dumbest comparison of all-time. This is a bland image of Phoenix's character and while it's not necessarily indicative of the movie's quality, this probably isn't The Joker many fans want to see!
Are you guys excited for Joker? Do you think the movie will live up to expectations or is it a disaster in the making? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section!
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.