The Joker is now filming in New York City and director Todd Phillips has decided to give us the first official look at Joaquin Phoenix in character.
Along with the headshot, we also learned the Joker’s real name: Arthur. That about does it for anyone hoping we’d see a return of the “Jack Napier” name that was first given to the character in Tim Burton’s Batman movie in 1989. Unless, of course, “Arthur” isn’t a real name. As Joker himself says in Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke (which this movie may take some inspiration from), “If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!”
Check him out…
Martin Scorsese was originally attached as producer, and early word about the script is that it has a lot in common with the kind of character work seen in movies like Taxi Driver and King Of Comedy. Rupert Pupkin himself, Robert De Niro, also has a role in this film. There are some set photos out there, too…
Now let’s just hope we don’t have to wait too long for a follow-up with Phoenix wearing the green and white.
It’s also pretty funny how this simple image couldn’t be any further away from the first look fans got at Jared Leto as the Joker when 2016’s Suicide Squad was first going into production. David Ayer revealed a rather different take on the Clown Prince of Crime, “damaged” tattoo, grill, and all on social media, and it was pretty divisive. This low key reveal certainly plays into the idea that Joker isn’t going to be your typical comic book adaptation.
Joker will open on October 4, 2019.