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It’s Official: Joaquin Phoenix Will Play The Joker

A while back, it was reported that Joaquin Phoenix was in talks to star in Warner Bros.’ Joker origin movie, which will kick off a slate of non-canon DC movies. While sites suggested that Phoenix was likely to close the deal, the actor has approached multiple comic book roles before turning them down. However, it’s now official.

WB has confirmed that Phoenix will play The Joker in the movie, which will kick off production in September. The film will have a $55 million budget and is a gritty crime drama that reimagines Joker’s origin. While a release date isn’t confirmed yet, The Hollywood Reporter suggests that it could be ready as soon as late 2019, assuming all goes according to plan.

Check out the press release below, and stay tuned for more as we have it.


(July 10, 2018 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Joaquin Phoenix will star in an origin story of one of DC’s most notorious Super-Villains, the Joker.

Under the direction of Todd Phillips, the film centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.

Phillips will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with writer Scott Silver (The Fighter). The film will be produced by Emma Tillinger Koskoff and executive produced by Richard Baratta. The film begins production later this year.

One of today’s most versatile actors, Phoenix has been honored with three Oscar nominations, for his work in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, James Mangold’s Walk the Line, in which he starred as Johnny Cash, and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. He won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 for Lynne Ramsey’s You Were Never Really Here, and has also earned acclaim for his work in numerous films, including Spike Jonze’s Her. His most recent film, Gus Van Sant’s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, premiered at Sundance this year.

The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

*credits not final/subject to change

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