In July of this year, news broke that actor and activist Joaquin Phoenix would play the role of Batman villain, Joker. Phoenix will be taking on the character in a film aptly titled Joker, which will explore the origins of the infamous criminal mastermind. The film will be directed by Todd Phillips who has worked on the The Hangover installments, and the 2016 film War Dogs starring Jonah Hill and Miles Teller.
Only a few days ago, Phillips shared an image of Phoenix as the Joker on his Instagram account. In the photograph, the actor is seen without the Clown Prince of Crime's signature make-up, indicating that the look is perhaps what the character resembled prior to his foray into mass crime. Phillips described his depiction of the character in the upcoming film as "an exploration of a man disregarded by society that is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.”
On the heels of this preview, entertainment giant Warner Bros. has revealed the names of the official cast and crew of the film. The star-studded list includes legendary actor Robert De Niro, Brett Cullen in the role of Batman's father Thomas Wayne, and Zazie Beetz of Deadpool 2. Other stars on the cast will be Douglas Hodge, Frances Conroy, Glenn Fleshler, Marc Maron and Shea Whigham. Additionally, Bradley Cooper is slated to join the team of producers alongside the film's director Todd Phillips.
The film Joker is expected to hit theaters October 4, 2019.