After their Exclusive Subscriber's Cover leaked earlier today, Empire Magazine has officially revealed both of their upcoming August covers, shining a spotlight on Todd Phillips' highly-anticipated
Joker movie and sharing frightening new looks at 3x Academy Award-nominee Joaquin Phoenix (
The Sisters Brothers) as the titular Clown Prince of Crime.
While the film - and Warner Bros. - will indeed skip San Diego Comic-Con in a few weeks, it does seem increasingly likely that the new theatrical trailer will be with us before the end of the summer as WB gears up to kickstart the film's sure-to-be massive global marketing campaign.
Also, the film has been rumored for a premiere at the 76th Venice International Film Festival at the end of August, which might suggest that the studio is feeling quite bullish about Phillips' final product.
“Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.
Joker features:
Director: Todd Phillips
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker
Robert De Niro as Murray Franklin
Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond
Frances Conroy as Penny Fleck
Marc Maron as Ted Marco
Bill Camp in an undisclosed role
Glenn Fleshler in an undisclosed role
Shea Whigham in an undisclosed role
Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne
Douglas Hodge as Alfred Pennyworth
Dante Pereira-Olson as Bruce Wayne
Brian Tyree Henry in an undisclosed role
Bryan Callen in an undisclosed role
Josh Pais in an undisclosed role
Joker laughs his way into theaters October 4