Moviefone Editorial

Tag: joaquin-phoenix-joker

  • Todd Phillips Offers ‘Joker’ Sequel Update

    Joaquin Phoenix in Todd Phillips' 'Joker.'
    Joaquin Phoenix in Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker.’

    It has been a few months since we heard anything new about the ‘Joker’ sequel that co-writer/director Todd Phillips has been busy scripting.

    But from the looks of Phillips’ latest Instagram post, things are moving smoothly along, with the script reaching its latest draft and, according to the other image on the post, star Joaquin Phoenix reading it.

    There’s also that title: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ which in case your high school French isn’t up to the task, translates to the term for a mental disorder that affects more than one person.

    No story details were offered up, but that highbrow title could refer to the pervasive influence of Arthur Fleck’s (Phoenix) actions in the first film. His brand of chaos certainly appeared to be spreading in Gotham. Phillips’ film was a dark, gritty, take on the Clown Prince of Crime, much more in the mood of a Martin Scorsese crime film than you usual superhero outing. It told the story of Fleck, 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.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CehX0rGPxQi/

    According to Deadline, Phoenix liked what he saw enough to kick off negotiations to return as Fleck, as while he had a sequel clause in his contract for the original, he has enough clout that Warners will need to stump up a hefty pay rise to make sure he returns for sure.

    News of further developments will be good news for Warner Bros. Discovery and DC, which saw the first ‘Joker’ go on to gross more than $1 billion at the box office and pick up 11 Oscar nominations, winning two – for Phoenix as Best Actor and Original Score for composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.

    Phillips has dropped hints of his working on a sequel in the past, and as recently as this January mentioned he and co-writer Scott Silver delivering earlier screenplay drafts to the studio.

    Naturally, the companies would like a follow-up now that Phillips has the story he wants to tell. From the looks of this, we could see the movie start filming this year.

    And Phillips’ involvement with the DC Movies structure as a whole could be changing since incoming Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav has apparently asked him to consider serving as an advisor for the DC movie universe going forward. Unlike Kevin Feige, who runs Marvel Studios for Disney, overseeing their movies and TV shows, Phillips would strictly work on a non-executive level.

    Also, unlike Feige, Phillips doesn’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of the comic books, so if he does take the job, chances are he might be paired with someone boasting that sort of experience, while he’ll handle filmmaking choices. Whether that comes about, of course, remains to be seen, though for now he’ll be focused on figuring out this one movie.

    O2ivnpjBDZggBi1lO29jA3

  • ‘Joker’ Sequel Reportedly Shooting Next Year

    Joaquin Phoenix in 2019's 'Joker' courtesy of Warner Bros.
    Joaquin Phoenix in 2019’s ‘Joker’ courtesy of Warner Bros.

    Todd Phillips’ 2019 DC movie ‘Joker’ was a huge success. Not only did it make more than $1 billion at the global box office, but it was nominated for 11 Oscars, winning two, including Best Actor for star Joaquin Phoenix.

    It’s hardly surprising, then, that studio Warner Bros. let slip to The Hollywood Reporter that a sequel is in development, with Phillips returning and Phoenix back as the main character.

    According to Heroic Hollywood’s sources, Phillips has handed in the sequel’s first draft screenplay to the studio and the new movie should be shooting in 2023. We’d caution that this is more rumor than anything else just yet, since Warner Bros. has yet to officially announce this forward movement. But then, studios aren’t in the habit of revealing their movies until everything is signed and sealed.

    As it’s at such an early stage, there are no details about the story for the new movie.

    Though Phillips’ original movie seemed like a longshot (and indeed, the studio had to be convinced that it was the right way to go with the character), it certainly paid off in both profit and awards (along with its Oscars, it took home a variety of other trophies).

    The story of that first film, in case you need a refresher, offered a new spin on Batman’s most famous arch nemesis – one in which the Caped Crusader doesn’t actually appear beyond a small cameo from a young Bruce Wayne, played by Dante Pereira-Olson.

    Joaquin Phoenix in 2019's 'Joker' courtesy of Warner Bros.
    Joaquin Phoenix in 2019’s ‘Joker’ courtesy of Warner Bros.

    Unlike Zack Snyder’s use of Jared Leto for ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’, this Joker exists outside of the DC Extended Universe of movies, which means that other comic book characters such as Superman and Wonder Woman are unlikely to ever face him. That said, Warner Bros’ expanding use of the multiverse to crossover between characters means that nothing is off the table in future.

    ‘Joker’ was a dark and gritty movie more in the style of a Martin Scorsese crime film than even Christopher Nolan’s vision for Batman. It’s the story of Arthur Fleck, 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.

    Alongside Phoenix, the cast included Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham.

    ‘The Hangover’s Phillips wrote the movie’s script with ‘8 Mile’s Scott Silver, and from the looks of the new report, they’ve reunited for the sequel.

    Phoenix always came across as less likely to come back, but Warner Bros. cannily included a standard sequel option in his contract, so assuming the movie goes ahead, he’ll be back in the make-up next year ready to be Arthur Fleck once again.

    PJ989VtkhszN0eNd45kPG6
  • Here Are Joaquin Phoenix’s First ‘Joker’ Photos

    Here Are Joaquin Phoenix’s First ‘Joker’ Photos

    Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
    Todd Phillips on Instagram

    Why so serious, Arthur? We’ll find out when Joaquin Phoenix‘s “Joker” origin story hits theaters in just over a year.

    “Joker” stars Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in the story of how he became The Clown Prince of Crime. The “gritty character study” co-stars Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, and Frances Conroy. (But not Alec Baldwin as Thomas Wayne. Not anymore.)

    Todd Phillips is directing the DC movie, and he’s the one who showed off the first official look at Arthur Fleck:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzF1teH-yK/

    This official photo comes in tandem with Just Jared’s new gallery of set photos, showing Arthur Fleck with a clown. He takes the clown’s red nose, and apparently irritates the guy:

    Here’s some background and speculation from Screen Rant:

    “Some clown makeup is included as Phoenix antagonizes a clown in an alley, after visiting Ha-Ha’s Talent Booking in Amusement Mile. The talent agency Phoenix visits is likely the one run by Marc Maron’s character. For all fans know, it’s the clown in the set photos that eventually influences Arthur to don a similar look.”

    Maybe. “Joker” is now filming, so this should be the start of many official and unofficial photos, and — eventually — trailers.

    This DC/Warner Bros. standalone movie is separate from the DCEU of Jared Leto‘s Joker, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, etc. “Joker” is scheduled for release in theaters on October 4, 2019.

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

  • Exclusive: Joaquin Phoenix Talks Taking on ‘The Joker’

    Amazon Studios/DC

    Earlier today we spoke with the absolutely lovely Joaquin Phoenix about his brilliant new film “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot.” That film, which reunites him with his “To Die For” director Gus Van Sant, is a postcard-sized character study of American cartoonist John Callahan. Just yesterday it was announced that he’d officially signed on to something much, much bigger: Warner Bros’ standalone ‘Joker’ film, to be directed by Todd Phillips and executive produced by Martin Scorsese.

    We couldn’t help but ask the actor why, when he’d been very publicly courted for lead role in Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange,” he would sign on to do this comic book adaptation instead.

    “Well, the one thing that only consistently motivates me is the character and the filmmaker. And so it just has happened that those things have never come together for a bigger movie but I’m not opposed to any genre or any size of film,” Phoenix explained. “I typically make films that are maybe more independent, that’s where I’ve found the most interesting characters and the things I want to pursue, but I’m not opposed to any film. But I will say that I don’t think you can equate this movie with some of those other movies that you’ve talked about.”

    When we asked if this would be something completely different, Phoenix wryly shot back, “I don’t know what it’s going to be. So I’ll just leave it at that.”

    “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot” opens in select theaters this week (it’s really, really great).

     

  • It’s Official: Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Gritty’ Joker Movie Is Happening, and Filming Soon

    It’s Official: Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Gritty’ Joker Movie Is Happening, and Filming Soon

    Joaquin Phoenix, HerWarner Bros.

    Joaquin Phoenix finalized his deal to play The Joker in DC’s upcoming origin story.

    So it’s really happening.

    With DC/Warner Bros.  it’s rarely clear what’s official and what’s just rumored — especially with all of the back-and-forth reports about Jared Leto’s Joker vs. Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.

    But The Hollywood Reporter says Phoenix recently closed his deal, and filming on the origin story will begin in New York this September. There’s no release date yet, but THR speculated that Warner Bros. could put it on the release calendar as early as next year.

    This Joker standalone — whose title has yet to be revealed –was co-written by Todd Phillips, who is also directing. The studio has apparently described it as an “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.” It’s being compared to a crime drama.

    A few months ago, sources told TheWrap this Joker movie would “portray Batman’s arch-nemesis as a failed 1980s comedian who becomes the clown prince of crime after bombing with audiences.”

    This Joker movie  is said to be separate from the DC Extended Universe of “Justice League” and Jared Leto’s Joker in “Suicide Squad.” THR said it’s meant to be more experimental in tone than the DCEU films, and also less expensive with a roughly $55 million budget.

    Jared Leto still reportedly has that  solo Joker movie in development, so as of now it doesn’t sound like Joaquin’s film will definitely replace Jared’s.  Joker fatigue is a possibility for audiences, but it depends on how the films differentiate from each other, and when each one arrives in theaters. (If the Jared Leto one happens at all.)

    Are you excited about this? Joaquin Phoenix is an exciting actor, and if he was intrigued enough to say yes to this project we’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. For now.

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.