Warner Bros. reportedly almost sent Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker film straight to streaming services over concerns that the film would spark real-world violence.
Since the coronavirus hit in full force, several films have been pushed back indefinity due to concerns over the epidemic. Some studios, however, have opted to send some of their films straight to streaming platforms and on-demand services as a way to recoup their expenses. But apparently this was not the first time such a thing was considered.
According to a report from The Wrap, Warner Bros. almost sent Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker straight to streaming services. This was apparently sparked over initial outcries against the apparent violent themes in the film. This, in all likelihood, would have been a big error on the part of Warner Bros.
While the film drew mixed reviews from critics, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker was a massive box-office success. The film earned over $1B on a $55M making it the single most profitable D.C. Comics film of all time. The film also went on to win two Oscars for star Joaquin Phoenix and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. But, once upon a time, Warner Bros. was close to releasing the film on the smaller screen first.
What do you all make of this report? Should Warner Bros. have sent Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker directly to streaming services? Did it deserve to be on the big screen? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Here is a plot synopsis Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker:
Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.
Directed by Todd Phillips from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham.
Joker is now available on Digital HD, Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD.
Source: The Wrap
