‘Joker’ Image Reveals New Look At Robert De Niro & Joaquin Phoenix

Joker Joaquin Phoenix Robert De Niro Martin Scorsese

A brand new image from the Todd Phillips-directed Joker movie offers fans a fresh look at Robert De Niro and Joaquin Phoenix.

Empire Magazine has revealed a never-before-seen still from Joker, featuring Robert De Niro as talk show host Murray Franklin opposite Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck in full makeup as the Clown Prince of Crime. You can check out the image below.

Joker Robert De Niro Joaquin Phoenix

Speaking with the magazine, Joker director Todd Phillips revealed that Robert De Niro was sold on the project after reading its script. According to Phillips, Joker was heavily inspired by some of De Niro’s older movies like The King of Comedy.

“Bob really loved the script .I met with him and said, ‘I’d be lying to you if I said we weren’t influenced by a lot of your movies.’ I talked with him about Taxi Driver and about The King Of Comedy, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.”

Warner Bros. is looking to tap into Scorsese classics such as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, with the Joaquin Phoenix film set in a gritty and grounded 1980s Gotham City. Todd Phillips is directing the standalone piece, which is said to be separate from the DC Extended Universe in an effort to create new and unique storylines to expand the canon.

Phillips also wrote the script with Scott Silver, the man behind the 2002 drama film 8 Mile starring Eminem. The project is said to focus on the Clown Prince of Crime as a failed 1980s comedian who becomes The Joker after bombing with audiences.

What do you think? Are you excited to see Robert De Niro and Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker movie? Let us know in the comments section!

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.

Opening in theaters on October 4, 2019, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Marc Maron, Brett Cullen, Bryan Callen and Robert De Niro. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for more updates on the project!

Source: Empire

Michael Bezanidis

Michael Bezanidis

Michael is the Managing Editor of Heroic Hollywood. When he's not playing video games, he's usually writing about film and television.