Joaquin Phoenix was cast as the Joker for a standalone film based on the world's most famous villain early this year. Comic book fans cautiously scratched their heads at the idea of Phoneix as the Joker. Not because the man isn't talented, but because comic fans are very particular when it comes to their casting. Also, DC is supposedly working on a solo Joker movie with Jared Leto, who played the villain in Suicide Squad.
Phoenix recently sat down with IndieWire, and he opened up for the first time about the criticism he received upon being named the new Joker. . “I could care less,” he said. “I don’t really think that much about what people think. Who cares, who cares? My approach to every movie is the same. What I’m interested in is the filmmaker and the idea of the character.”
He continued on to voice his reason for accepting the role. “If there’s something that feels unique, then I don’t really care what genre it is, what budget it is,” Phoenix stated. “Those things aren’t important. What gets my interest is examining people. Some of it is really fucking simple. It’s chemistry, it’s like what you look for in a lover. You know it when it happens.”