Well, it’s definite. Warner Bros has formally announced that it’s pressing ahead with a thus-far untitled Joker origins movie. Furthermore, it’s also now confirmed that Joaquin Phoenix will be taking the lead role.
Todd Phillips, director of The Hangover trilogy, will be helming the new movie, having co-written the screenplay with Scott Silver. (The Fighter) The film is due to start shooting later this year.
As per the official press announcement, “the film centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale”. Make of that what you will.
Reports suggest that this will be quite a low budget movie too, with a price around the $50-60m mark. Whether Warner Bros will risk an R-rating too remains to be seen.
We’re guessing that the film will be in cinemas at the back end of 2019. We’ll keep you posted as we hear more.