Joaquin Phoenix is the top choice to play The Joker in origin film
Three-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play The Joker in director Todd Phillips’ untitled origin movie.
While studio negotiations are not yet underway, Phillips has made it clear that Phoenix is the top choice to star in the movie, reports variety.com.
Phillips is on board to cowrite and direct the movie. He had met with Phoenix before the new year and was just waiting for the studio’s goahead, according to a source.
Actor Jared Leto, who starred in Suicide Squad (2016) as The Joker, is still on board as the character in any other movies in the series. Phoenix’s role, if it gets confirmed, has no effect on what happens with Leto’s character in future.
The origin movie falls under a yet-to-be-announced new banner, which would give the studio the opportunity to expand the canon of the iconic comic book characters, with unique story angles that aren’t included in its current cinematic universe.
Leto is likely to reprise his role in Suicide Squad 2, but will not be featured in this film. The role of The Joker has been played in the past by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger.
Rumour has it that actor Leonardo DiCaprio was the first person approached to star in Phillips’ standalone film.
Scott Silver will join Phillips as co-writer on the film, which will delve into what it took for The Joker to become this criminal mastermind. Set in the 1980s, the film will have more of the look of a gritty crime drama than a comic book movie.
Phoenix had been offered the role of villain Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).