The Joaquin Phoenix-starring film that will look at the origins of Batman’s greatest villain The Joker has been given a greenlight by Warner Brothers.
The Hollywood Reporter is stating that Phoenix has sealed his deal with the studio and cameras are set to roll on the project in New York City this September.
The still untitled film is budgeted at around $55 million, a fraction of what most comic book adaptations cost. This suggests that the film will possibly be concentrating more on character interaction than massive action set pieces. The Reporter is stating that director Todd Phillips is aiming for the film to “be darker and more experimental in tone and content,” though how far a studio will allow him to go in that direction with one of their more recognizable pieces of intellectual property remains to be seen.
Warners has noted set a release date for the film – an unusual move in itself – though a late 2019 release would not be out of the question.
The studio still has a second Joker film which would star Jared Leto reprising his Suicide Squad role as the Crown Prince of Crime. There is no word yet as to whether the Phoenix-fronted film will ut the brakes on the Leto film.
