Joker director Todd Phillips discussed how the Joaquin Phoenix film disregards the comic books during an interview with Empire.
While the Joker’s origin has been explored in comics and various films, director Todd Phillips’ new project will offer a brand new backstory for Joaquin Phoenix’s Clown Prince of Crime. However, while most on-screen versions of the Joker’s origin story have taken some inspiration from the comics, the latest film from Warner Bros. and DC will disregard all previous source material when exploring the beginnings of Joaquin Phoenix’s incarnation of the villain.
Director Todd Phillips explained what while he is aware of the fact that ignoring the source material will anger fans, they wanted to explore their own version of where someone like the Joker could come from:
“We didn’t follow anything from the comic-books, which people are gonna be mad about. We just wrote our own version of where a guy like Joker might come from. That’s what was interesting to me. We’re not even doing Joker, but the story of becoming Joker. It’s about this man.”
Empire also unveiled a new photo of Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck tearfully applying his Joker makeup and you can check out the image below.
Are you disappointed to hear Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker won’t follow the comics? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Here is the official synopsis for Joker:
“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.
Directed by Todd Phillips from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham.
Joker will be released in theaters on October 4, 2019.
Source: Empire
Clay Enos Shares Hi-Res Stills Of ‘Batman v Superman’, ‘Justice League’ & More
Photographer Clay Enos has shared a huge batch of new hi-res stills from DCEU films such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Suicide Squad which includes several new images of Jared Leto as The Joker.
The hi-res images range from stills to behind the scenes photos featuring directors Zack Snyder and David Ayer working with cast members including Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Will Smith as Deadshot. In addition to the new images of Jared Leto's Joker, a new image of Gadot as Wonder Woman in her own standalone film is included among the hi-res stills.
You can check out the images in the gallery below.
Warner Bros. and DC Films have many projects currently being developed including The Batman, The Flash standalone film, Green Lantern Corps, Black Adam, Supergirl, New Gods, and Nightwing.
The DCEU continues this month with Aquaman which is now playing and will be followed by Shazam! on April 5, 2019, Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) on February 7, 2020, and Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5, 2020. A standalone Joker film set outside of the DC Films universe starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime is also set to hit theaters October 4, 2019.
Directed by James Wan, Aquaman stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, Amber Heard as Mera, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, Patrick Wilson as Orm / Ocean Master, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Ludi Lin as Captain Murk, and Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director, James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be… a king.
Aquaman is now playing. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on the future of the current DC cinematic universe as we learn it.
Source: Clay Enos
