“Joker” director Todd Phillips continues to tease fans with what to expect from Joaquin Phoenix in the upcoming film. On Friday, Phillips posted a screen test video on Instagram that showed Phoenix in full makeup as the Clown Prince.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn_uihPAVhL/?utm_source=ig_embed
The music accompanying the video is sad, somber, misunderstood and when paired with the Phoenix’s on-camera presence, it points to the character’s mental instability.
The plot for the film is being kept under wraps, but it’s a safe bet that audiences can expect a dark tone. TheWrap previously reported that the origin story for Batman’s nemesis will be more of a mid-budget crime thriller than a superhero blockbuster.
Warner Bros. recently cast veteran actor Brett Cullen as Batman’s father Thomas Wayne, replacing Alec Baldwin who had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict.
“Deadpool 2” star Zazie Beetz will play a single mother who catches the attention of the Joker prior to his transformation into the nihilistic Gotham City villain. It was also reported that Robert De Niro was in talks to join the project. The role would see De Niro portray a talk show host who plays a role in the Joker’s origins.
Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow will co-produce the film, with Todd Phillips directing. Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Richard Baratta, whose producing credits include Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” are attached as producers. The film will be released on Oct. 4, 2019.