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Warner Bros. Developing Joker Origin Film Produced by Martin Scorsese; Will Be Separate from DCEU

Warner Bros. has over a dozen DC movies in development, making up the DC Extended Universe. But the studio’s latest move goes beyond that universe, promising a new take on the most iconic comic book villain.

According to Deadline, WB is developing a new film telling the origin story of The Joker. The Hangover‘s Todd Phillips will direct, produce and co-write the script with Scott Silver, while legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is on board as a producer.

The film is described as a “gritty and grounded hard-boiled” story that’s set in early 1980s Gotham City. Deadline compares the movie to Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and similar films.

The catch? This movie is not part of the DCEU or any other existing version of Joker; rather, it’s a standalone story. The film is part of a developing WB banner that expands the DC canon, allowing for unique storylines and different actors for these characters. These films aren’t tied to the DCEU continuity. So, the banner allows WB to explore more Elseworlds stories, bringing DC’s infamous Multiverse to the big screen.

Since this is separate from the DCEU, Jared Leto will not reprise his role in The Joker. Rather, the movie will cast a new, possibly younger actor in the role. However, Deadline says that Leto will return in both Suicide Squad 2 and Gotham City Sirens.

So yeah, this is a very interesting direction for WB to take with its DC properties. There’s definitely potential; the idea of great standalone films that aren’t worried about shared universes can go well. They can explore unique portrayals of DC characters during the same time as the DCEU. At the same time, will the general audience get on board with this cinematic multiverse? We’ll have to wait and see.

Stay tuned for more as we have it.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WOBAM! Entertainment.