The 1993 cult classic Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is considered to be an underrated theatrically-released Batman film. Although it’s animated and even features the voices of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill from the acclaimed animated series as Batman and The Joker respectively, it has been praised as an excellent story and visuals that helped define this iteration of the Caped Crusader as perhaps the definitive interpretation of the character.
The film’s climax finds The Joker getting caught within the explosions at the amusement park. Some have seen this as how The Joker eventually dies, and Mark Hamill isn’t opposed to that idea since he played this part as if he were about to perish.
Hamill recently explained his thoughts on The Joker and the character’s inevitable doom in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm with some interesting insight:
“Sometimes you have to play the scene like he’s dying, but anyone that knows comics knows that he’ll never be completely dead.”
Hamill makes an interesting point here. No matter how many times The Joker may end up failing in his plans to thwart Batman, he will always end up coming back. In a lot of ways, Batman simply cannot exist without The Joker. It’s a circular narrative of chaos that keeps them both alive.
To borrow a quote from Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, “No one’s ever really gone.”
The Joker will next be seen on the big screen with Academy Award-nominee Joaquin Phoenix in the role. Here is the synopsis for that film:
“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: THR
DC Universe Debuts ‘Doom Patrol’ Character Posters
Along with the premiere of the first teaser for Doom Patrol, DC Universe also debuted a collection of character posters for each of the members of perhaps the strangest team of characters to be adapted in live-action form for DC Comics.
In particular, these new character posters highlight Timothy Dalton's The Chief, Diane Guerrero's Crazy Jane, Joivan Wade's Cyborg, April Bowlby's Elasti-Woman, Matt Bomer's Negative Man and Brendan Fraser's Robotman. These posters each follow unique designs that reflect the nature of each character and tease unique personalities amongst the group as well.
You can start the gallery of new posters by clicking "Next".
Which of these Doom Patrol posters is your favorite? Are you excited to see what the cast brings to these roles? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news in the DC Universe.
Doom Patrol is a reimagining of one of DC’s strangest group of outcast Super Heroes which includes: Matt Bomer as Larry Trainor/Negative Man, Brendan Fraser as Cliff Steele/Robotman, April Bowlby as Elasti-Woman, Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane, Joivan Wade as Victor Stone/Cyborg and Timothy Dalton as Dr. Niles Caulder/The Chief.
Here is the synopsis for the show:
“Doom Patrol will find the reluctant heroes in a place they never expected to be, called to action by Cyborg, who comes to them with a mission hard to refuse, but with a warning that is hard to ignore: their lives will never, ever be the same.”
Doom Patrol will premiere on February 15, 2019 exclusively on DC Universe.
