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Warner Bros. Wants Leonardo DiCaprio to Star in the Joker Movie

A couple weeks ago, it was revealed that Warner Bros. is developing a standalone film that tells Joker’s origin story. Todd Phillips is directing, while Martin Scorsese is in talks to produce. The movie takes place in 1980s Gotham City, telling a “gritty” story that’s separate from the DC Extended Universe. In fact, the film is part of a new DC movie banner that features non-canon stories.

Now, we have a better idea of just how high WB’s ambitions for this movie are. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is interested in casting Leonardo DiCaprio in the Joker movie, and they’re using Scorsese’s potential involvement to try to lure him in. Scorsese is the filmmaker that DiCaprio has collaborated with the most throughout his career, churning out five beloved films.

DiCaprio is one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, but he has been disinterested in doing big franchise films. So, if they somehow manage to get him on board for The Joker, that would be a huge get for the genre. But if DiCaprio doesn’t sign on, then WB intends on casting another A-list actor as Joker, who will be depicted as a “gritty” crime boss in the Gotham underworld.

THR goes on to elaborate on this new DC movie banner. The films in this slate will feature “non-traditional” versions of the DC characters, and the studio hopes to attract actors and directors who typically stay away from the superhero genre. Also, the studio is said to be “acutely” aware of potential confusion from audiences; for example, the idea of two different Jokers on screen at once.

Speaking of which… THR also says that Jared Leto is not big on the idea of this Joker movie. Leto plays the character in the DCEU, first appearing in Suicide Squad. He is attached to reprise the role in Suicide Squad 2 and a Joker/Harley Quinn spinoff. But when news broke of a separate Joker movie, Leto was caught off guard, and he complained about it to his agents at CAA.

Stay tuned for more news as we have it.

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