Being someone who has an immense appreciation for the Joker, you can image that I’m looking forward to the upcoming origin film starring Joaquin Phoenix. Granted, it may be outside the shared continuity of DC flicks first established by Man of Steel back in 2013 and divulge what some may consider to be too much about the Clown Prince of Crime’s background, but has anyone stopped to consider that it may turn out well? I mean, Robert De Niro and Frances Conroy wouldn’t be circling a picture with a crappy screenplay.
Actually, there is one minor gripe I have about the movie, and that’s how it’ll present yet another Ace of Knaves on celluloid while Jared Leto is still attached to the character in another capacity. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be surprised if Leto were to get a second go-round no matter what PR line I’m being fed, but it’s hard not picturing the average moviegoer being confused by this situation.
Chiming in on this topic was former DC President and now full-time movie and TV producer Geoff Johns, who spoke with Collider about director Todd Phillips’ contribution to the enduring mythology, in addition to the idea of a cinematic multiverse:
“Well Todd’s really talented guy. I would actually go even broader and say there is something really great about having everything interconnected as a fan but as a creator there is something really great about having the freedom to do a show like Titans or Stargirl that are totally their own thing, you’re not trying to connect every little creative choice… And DC has the multi-verse, I’ve always liked that.”
Again, people like you and I may not mind the idea of an onscreen multiverse, but we have to think of general audiences who can’t tell Aquaman from Namor, which accounts for more ticket sales than you’d imagine. Still, Johns isn’t afraid to suggest going big:
“DC’s kind of known for its iconic characters and different takes on the characters in different mediums. I feel like that’s kind of what’s happened. 15-20 years down the line you get a crisis movie with everybody right? And everyone meet that has ever been in a live action would be a lot of fun but that’s fanboy craziness. To me, the diversity of tone — that everything can kind of coexist. The good stuff sticks and the stuff that doesn’t quite work doesn’t.”
Joker opens in theaters on October 4, 2019. Whether or not Crisis on Infinite Earths storms cinemas in 2039, however, remains to be seen.
