According to Variety, Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play the Joker in Warner Bros.’ in-development villain origin film. Todd Phillips will be directing the film, as well as co-writing the script with Scott Silver. The movie will be produced under a new yet-to-be-announced film banner from DC, which will include comic stories and characters outside of the current DC Cinematic Universe. Think of them as the movie versions of DC’s Elseworlds stories. Jared Leto will continue to portray the Clown Prince in upcoming Warner Bros/DC films, including Suicide Squad 2.
The film is being described as an 80’s era gritty crime drama that examines the Joker’s rise to criminal mastermind.