People can't get enough of the Clown Prince of Crime.
At least, that's what Warner Brothers seems to think, now that news has emerged that not
one, but two solo movies for the character are being developed.
It's a move that raises a lot of questions for the casual moviegoer.
Is Jared Leto still the Joker, or are we getting Joaquin Phoenix?
And if they're both the Joker, how?
We've got the answers to all of this and more, so if you're wondering why everything seems
to be coming up Joker, stay with us.
Developing DC
Warner Brothers' DC Extended Universe is a movie series that's hard to talk about without
bringing up comparisons to Marvel.
Launched in 2013 with Man of Steel, the DCEU is a direct response to the success that Marvel
Studios and Disney have been having with their cinematic universe since the release of Iron
Man in 2008.
Big differences have emerged in the way we learn about upcoming movies in each franchise.
Regarding Marvel, we generally don't know what they're working on until they officially
announce something, meaning that by the time we hear about a movie that they're doing,
we can be fairly confident it's actually going to happen.
DC takes the opposite approach, with leaks and rumors emerging about a downright confusing
number of movies in development, some of which will more than likely never see the light
of day.
It's almost too much to keep track of, making things extra confusing for the casual fan.
"Cuz there's been talk of like, the Harley-Joker film, and the Gotham City Sirens.
Are those two distinct things, are you talking about the Sirens project?"
"No, it's a totally separate one."
"Oh my god."
The joke book
Let's talk about the DC movies just related to the Joker, in order of how likely they
seem to actually happen.
First off, there's Suicide Squad 2, which is reportedly set to feature Jared Leto returning
to the role as part of an ensemble.
Next, there's the most-recently announced Joker solo movie, also set to center on Leto's
Joker.
Then there's the biggest wild card of all: the Martin Scorsese-produced, Todd Phillips-directed,
Joaquin Phoenix-led Joker origin movie.
Finally, there's the "twisted romantic comedy" project featuring Harley Quinn and the Joker.
Supposedly, this movie replaces the Gotham City Sirens movie we've heard so many reports
about, which also was reportedly going to involve Leto's Joker.
In other words, Warner Brothers could currently be working on no less than four different
films involving the Joker, two of them solo movies with completely different actors.
The obvious question is how the Joaquin Phoenix movie could possibly fit in with the tone
established by Leto's Joker, much less the continuity of the DCEU.
The answer is simple: It won't.
Elseworlds
Even before Justice League saw a theatrical release, word was out that Warner Brothers
was in the process of re-evaluating its strategy regarding DC Comics movies.
Specifically, the studio started exploring the possibility that this whole shared universe
thing might not be all it's cracked up to be.
They'd hardly be the only ones to screw up a movie mega-verse.
[Yelling and crashing]
Word is, Warner Brothers is in the process of creating a new banner for movies to take
place outside of shared universe continuity.
Under this arrangement, multiple actors will be able to play the same role, with anything
that happens outside the shared universe being irrelevant to it.
That way, any actor will be able to play the Joker on the big screen in an alternate-universe
story, having no effect on the storyline of Jared Leto's Joker.
It works for DC's animated universe, so why not the big screen?
For now, this separate banner remains untitled, and Warner Brothers hasn't done a whole lot
to make the general public aware that they're making this move, leaving the door open for
what feels like an unnecessary amount of confusion.
Jokin' Phoenix
So, what is this alternate-universe, Elseworlds-style Joker movie?
Here's what we know right now.
According to reports, DC is developing a solo Joker origin story starring Joaquin Phoenix,
directed by Todd Phillips of The Hangover series fame.
Phillips is co-writing the script with Scott Silver, who wrote 8 Mile and The Fighter.
The movie is being produced in part by Martin Scorsese, and at this point, there's every
indication that Phoenix really has signed on for the role, though he's publicly been
cagey about his involvement so far.
A lot of the information that we have about this movie's premise comes from MMA fighter-turned-comedian
Brendan Schaub, who spilled some showbiz gossip during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience
podcast.
"As a kid, he had like a permanent smile and everyone made fun of him.
It's like on the streets of Brooklyn.
It's like super dark and real.
I can't wait."
Joker: A Joker Story
Right now, not much is known about Jared Leto's Joker movie.
The hunt is currently on for a director and a screenwriter, and it's unknown whether the
movie will be produced before or after Suicide Squad 2.
Either way, the earliest we'll see this is in 2019.
As for the plot?
Well, it probably won't be an origin story.
Leto going forward with the movie would seem to indicate that any bad blood that may have
existed between him and Warner Brothers has more or less dissolved.
If you'll recall, Leto seemed pretty peeved at the way his Suicide Squad work was treated
in the editing room, with most of his involved performance ending up on the cutting room
floor.
Elseworlds apart
If the Elseworlds-style banner takes off, there are many stories in DC's stable that
might get adaptations.
One potential project Warner Brothers was once considering is Superman: Red Son, a story
that imagines how things might have shaken out had the Kryptonian crash-landed in the
USSR.
As a story, it's the perfect example of what this alternate world movie banner could accomplish.
Making multiple Joker films may sound like the strangest way to start it, but if Warner
Brothers hits on something, it could very well revolutionize the way studios approach
comic book movies.
Maybe it's time to go to the next level, and wouldn't it be funny if DC was the one who
leads us there?
Despite the mistakes of even the rather recent past, it could work out for everyone.
And that's no joke.
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