A Joker Origin Movie In The Works & Why It's A Great Idea That Might Just Work

It’s safe to say no one was expecting this news story to come out, but Warner Bros and DC Entertainment could be changing the way comic book movies are seen.

Deadline broke the news that WB and DC are looking to make an origin story based on The Joker with The Hangover (most recently War Dogs) director Todd Phillips in talks to helm the film as well as co-write it with Scott Silver (8 Mile and The Fighter)  with the legend Martin Scorsese in line to produce.

IMAGE VIA REX/SHUTTERSTOCK/CAA

If the talent involved wasn’t awesome enough, the fact this is the beginning of a new film banner at Warner Bros based of DC properties that will focus on Elseworlds stories with unique storylines with different actors playing the iconic characters.

According to the US website “the intention is to make an origin story that isn’t part of any other iteration.”

So this means it won’t focus on Jack Nicholson’s 1989 Joker or Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal.

IMAGE VIA WARNER BROS

The same goes for the latest portrayal by Jared Leto as he’ll be the character in the DC Extended Universe as he’ll reprise the role for the Suicide Squad sequel and the Harley Quinn spinoff/Gotham City Sirens.

IMAGE VIA CLAY ENOS/ WARNER BROS

However, “this new film will launch the character with a different actor, possibly younger.”

What makes it even more interesting is the setting and it makes sense to why the studio wants to bring Scorsese on board because “the intention is to make a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in early 80s Gotham City that isn’t meant to feel like a DC movie as much as one of Scorsese’s films from that era, like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull or The King of Comedy.”

Additionally, Phillips and Silver are already writing the script, but no production date or release date has been mentioned.

However, The Hollywood Reporter is stating Scorsese’s involvement is far from assured.

I think this is a fantastic idea because not only will you have the regular DCEU with Wonder Woman, Justice League etc, but now we can more stories with different budgets (likely lower/mid). So with this Joker origin could easily be $30-$60 million dollars or hell go super ‘Get Out’ low budget and make this film for about $5 million.

Also, this film will probably have a Killing Joke vibe origin to it and if it’s a success both critically and financially than they can follow it up with Superman: Red Son, Gotham by Gaslight and more DC Comics Elseworlds.

IMAGE VIA DC COMICS

IMAGE VIA DC COMICS

Is it mental? Yes. Do we need a Joker origin? No, the mystery is what makes the character compelling. However, it’s so out of the box and if done well it might just work. Just give as a fucking incredible origin story that doesn't portray The Joker as a crazy man, he should be seen as a scary monster.

Just look at what Fox are doing with their X-Men Universe. You have the main, loosely central universe with X-Men: Apocalypse and also there other, recently more successful films like Deadpool and Logan.  

As for who could be in line for the role, the top two actors that come to mind is Britain’s Will Poulter and Sweden’s Bill Skarsgard. Both actors have a connection to playing a scary, crazy clown as Poulter was originally set to play Pennywise in the upcoming IT remake before leaving the project and got replaced by Skarsgard, who has successfully scared the living shit out of me.

Finally, if people are still losing their shit about why this film is happening and why they have these people working on it. Think of it this way, director of the second highest-grossing R-rated comedy in the US and the sixth highest ever, written by an Oscar nominated screenwriter and possibly produced by Martin fucking Scorsese.