Iwan Rheon
As on-screen villains go, few are more memorable than Iwan Rheon’s Ramsay Bolton. Bolton was pretty much Westeros’ very own Joker, complete with a maniacal laugh and masochistic tendencies. The only stumbling block here is that Rheon is set to play Maximus in the upcoming Marvel TV show, The Inhumans and while this film is not set in the DCEU, it is difficult imagining Marvel allowing him to jump ship and take on such an iconic role.
Bill Skarsgard
If internet buzz is anything to by, It is going to be the biggest movie of the next few months and lead actor Bill Skarsgard can expect a huge career boost off the back of it. While the film is not yet released, early rumours are that Skarsgard knocks it out of the park as the iconic Pennywise, and if that is the case there is no reason why he can’t take on The Joker. Skarsgard is also very young, 27 years old in fact, meaning he would be the perfect age to play The Joker in his early years.
Casey Affleck
Like Keaton, this would definitely be a piece of stunt casting, but Affleck is actually pretty well suited to the role. Not only is he an incredibly versatile actor, but he is also on a high right now following his Academy Award victory for Manchester by the Sea last year.
Affleck would also be able to pull off a more cowardly Joker, pre-transformation akin to his performance as Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James, and he has shown throughout his career he is able to go to a darker place when the performance requires it.
Will Poulter
Before Bill Skarsgard finally took the role, Will Poulter was all set to take on the role of Pennywise in the upcoming It movie, and I’m in no doubt that he’d have absolutely nailed it.
Poulter brings an incredible intensity to every role and is able to switch from charming to terrifying at the drop of a hat. While Skarsgard will no doubt be brilliant as Pennywise, there is a part of me that will always want to see what Poulter could have done with the role, and with him just coming out of a career best performance in Katherine Bigelow’s Detroit, now would be the perfect time to give him his big break.
Rhys Wakefield
An unknown when compared to the rest of the actors on this list, Rhys Wakefield is best known for his performance as the lead purger in the original Purge movie. Wakefield has not done a whole lot since the success of the first movie, but the Australian born actor has got something of a cult following on the internet.
Wakefield’s finest feature, aside from the fact that he is ridiculously creepy, is his smile. Wakefield can strike a grin that can send chills down the spine and is incredibly reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s iconic smirk. While he has done very little of note in the last few years, Wakefield could be the perfect left of center choice for the next on-screen Joker.
Who do you think should be the next Clown Prince of Crime? Let us know in the comments below, and let Liam know on Twitter @liamhoofe
Originally published August 29, 2017. Updated April 17, 2018.
