Warner Bros
Three-time Oscar nominee will take his best shot at portraying one of the most malignant villains in film history in the Todd Phillips-directed (The Hangover, Old School) origin story movie simply named Joker. Phoenix will be the seventh actor to portray the Joker, to varying degrees of success (Heath Ledger: one of the greatest performances in modern film, Jared Leto: left a lot to be desired).
The movie, which will hit theaters in October 4, 2019, will follow Arthur Fleck’s journey as a failed stand-up comedian in the 80s who is driven insane and morphed into the psychopathic killer we’ve come to be enthralled by. It is said to take its cues from cult classic film The King of Comedy.
Last week, director Todd Phillips and Warner Bros. posted a video of Phoenix as The Joker with his face painted as the The Ace of Knaves. Phillips claims he released his interpretation of the Joker solely to combat the several paparazzi on set who have posted tons of pictures and videos of the film already.
Last night, Phillips posted a new photo of Phoenix in full clown attire, looking more like a birthday party clown who takes cigarette breaks in his 1991 Toyota Corolla than the less traditional interpretations we’ve come to know.
Phillips also posted a photo of Deadpool 2 star Zazie Beetz, who will play a cynical single mother and Arthur’s love interest. No bells and whistles here, Zazie Beetz looks like Zazie Beetz.
The upcoming Joker movie will also star Robert De Niro as a talk show host, Marc Maron, and Bryan Callen.
Be on the lookout for the official trailer.
[h/t Uproxx]