According to a report from Deadline, Warner Brothers is actively pursuing a ‘Joker’ origin story that will be directed by ‘The Hangover’s’ Todd Phillips and produced by the man, the myth, the legend Martin Scorsese. This news should come as a delight on the surface to many DC fans, but once you begin to peel away the layers it begins to seem really complicated.
The Joker is a character that from his inception has never really had a concrete backstory. Many writers have given their take on the origins of the clown prince of crime but none have truly stuck. Would a film adaptation of The Joker’s origin story have any more of a lasting impact than the countless comics that came before it?
Secondly, how do you address the Jared Leto situation? Leto’s Joker was one of the most unfairly criticized film characters of all time. Leto’s interpretation of The Joker was starkly different to anything we’ve seen in the past but we honestly didn’t even really get to see much of what he had to offer. His Joker was on screen for less than 8 minutes during the entirety of Suicide Squad and from the initial reports about this new film, it seems like that’s all we’re going to get. Leto’s Joker has been seemingly axed from DC’s plans moving forward which is mind boggling in its own right given the aforementioned information. But more importantly, what does this mean for the DCEU overall? Is Warner Bros. just going to ax characters from the DCEU with no explanation moving forward? If that’s the case, I have a list for them. Does a digitally de-aged Ben Affleck appear in this 80’s Joker origin story as a young Batman? And honestly, if they are planning on making this movie in a splinter universe just stop now. All of this news super confusing and only time will tell how it plays out. It’s sick that Martin Scorsese is involved in the DCEU in any capacity but I just wish it would have been something without this much baggage weighing it down.
All of this news super confusing and only time will tell how it plays out. It’s sick that Martin Scorsese is involved in the DCEU in any capacity but I just wish it could have been something without this much baggage weighing it down.
We will keep you posted with more news on the ‘Joker’ origin story as it develops.
