Over the last couple weeks we’ve gotten a fair bit of news regarding Warner Bros. and DC’s standalone film centred on their most recognizable villain, The Joker. First WB officially greenlit the film, then Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator) was cast in the role of the Clown Prince of Crime before rumours over the film’s plot began circulating. Now, just as the San Diego Comic-Con is set to begin, WB and DC have announced the title of the film and the release date: Joker will hit theatres October 4, 2019.
The film will be directed by Todd Phillips (the Hangover trilogy) from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver (The Fighter). Joker will be an origin story for the famous Batman villain that will have a darker tone than the other DC films and be the first in a series that will tell tales that stand apart from the DCEU films such as Aquaman and Wonder Woman 1984. It is said to be an exploration of a man disregarded by society that is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.
Joker will begin production this September with a budget reported to be around $55 million, a relatively modest amount compared to other films in the superhero genre. This is to help give the film a grounded and gritty crime-driven feel. Meanwhile, Jared Leto is reportedly still set to play the DCEU’s Joker in Suicide Squad 2 and his own standalone film alongside Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn.
