To be clear, Phoenix would NOT be taking over for Jared Leto. This would instead be for the Joker origin story project co-written and directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover trilogy), which "would fall under a yet-to-be-announced new banner of DC comics, which would give the studio the opportunity to expand the canon of the iconic comic-book characters with unique story angles that aren't included in its current cinematic universe."

Phoenix is an inspired choice, no doubt, but man, it's like WB is just trying to confuse the hell out of people to the point of indifference...

Interesting...

He's got the acting chops, but will he be feared as an onscreen villain?

I mean, he was a good villain in Gladiator.

I have no doubt he could be intimidating and convincingly certifiably insane. However, the humor aspect of the Joker, I'm not sure he can get down. He's just never had a crazy in a silly kind of way, as the joker can be sometimes, type of role so I don't know if he has that in him.

Someone that I think might be a low key shoe in to pull off that role, Bill Hader.

I don't think it needs to address how he got that way. But it would be cool to see a story describing how he grew into the super villain he became from the small time crook.

I could see him making it work as an origin story. The good news for him is the most recent joker is Leto, not Ledger.

Do most really care about a Joker origin story? Plus, like you said, way too many joker versions out there now.

isn't he a bit old to play an origin story?

besides, I doubt he'll look good with a gold grill and tattoos.

Flashdiaz said:

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isn't he a bit old to play an origin story?

besides, I doubt he'll look good with a gold grill and tattoos.

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Assuming the Leto joker is the movie canon version, Phoenix is 43 and Leto is 46. This does not compute.

I guess they might be looking at it like an expanded CW thing: same character but separate from the established movie world (Flash TV vs Flash movie). But that would be like Marvel making another Iron Man movie with a different Tony Stark and saying it's not part of the MCU right?

Read the OP / article. This is a completely different Joker from Leto's. On top of the cluster***** that is WB's cinematic universe, they're now doing unrelated one-off movies that are not at all part of their established cinematic universe.

Always thought he would have made a stellar Lex Luthor.

PlanoAggie said:

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Do most really care about a Joker origin story? Plus, like you said, way too many joker versions out there now.

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Does this really matter?

I think DC\WB should just say they're scraping all projects and going to an island for 6 months to figure out a cohesive and coherent plan. Then come back out and announce that.

I had totally forgotten about his role.

Flashdiaz said:

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I think DC\WB should just say they're scraping all projects and going to an island for 6 months to figure out a cohesive and coherent plan. Then come back out and announce that.

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Supposedly the new leadership is going to do something very similar to this. Was trying to find the article but the basics of it were that they were going to control release of information regarding future projects a lot better instead of the internet hearing that there are supposedly 8 harley quinn spin offs and 10 joker movies in development.

Forum Troll said:

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Flashdiaz said:

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I think DC\WB should just say they're scraping all projects and going to an island for 6 months to figure out a cohesive and coherent plan. Then come back out and announce that.

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Supposedly the new leadership is going to do something very similar to this. Was trying to find the article but the basics of it were that they were going to control release of information regarding future projects a lot better instead of the internet hearing that there are supposedly 8 harley quinn spin offs and 10 joker movies in development.

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Well, they're doing a bang up job so far.....

Ulrich said:

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I can't decide if I really like the idea of a Joker origin story or think Joker shouldn't have an origin story at all because it takes away from the incomprehensible force of nature aspect. Motive doesn't really apply to him, why should we try to explain how he got that way?

I'm sure he has a backstory in the comics, but I'm not a comic person.

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I think he has several possible backstories. There's a comic where he says something like "I like my memory to be multiple choice!"

Too old.
Too fat.

PlanoAggie said:

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Do most really care about a Joker origin story? Plus, like you said, way too many joker versions out there now.

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If this is based on the Kilking Joke (a terrific graphic novel), then yes, many will care.

We're talking tens of dozens of people here!

Hopefully no Barbara Gordon batman sechs