With the Todd Phillips-helmed Joker movie still over a year away, many aren’t sure what to make of this upcoming standalone outing, and while plenty of fans responded well to their first look at Joaquin Phoenix as the famed DC villain, others have their doubts.
This division in public opinion is evidenced in the range of responses to the latest images of Arthur Fleck sporting the classic Joker costume. On the one hand, a lot of fans are very much on board with next year’s release in general, and Phoenix’s take on the title character in particular:
https://twitter.com/sad_churro/status/1043617918947221505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1043617918947221505&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Fdc%2F2018%2F09%2F22%2Fdc-fans-react-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-classic-costume%2F
I’m getting Ceser Romero vibes off the makeup and costume, which is a plus in my book cause that’s my favorite Joker.
— Tyler Freshcorn (@tyler_freshcorn) September 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/marvelsdaenerys/status/1043617999679303681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1043617999679303681&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Fdc%2F2018%2F09%2F22%2Fdc-fans-react-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-classic-costume%2F
https://twitter.com/One_Alex_Dawson/status/1043620572008263680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1043620572008263680&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Fdc%2F2018%2F09%2F22%2Fdc-fans-react-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-classic-costume%2F
All the same, not everyone is so thrilled by this latest set of pics, and the detractors have made their opinions known:
https://twitter.com/jazzykuns809/status/1043620513048870917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1043620513048870917&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Fdc%2F2018%2F09%2F22%2Fdc-fans-react-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-classic-costume%2F
Hmm honestly not a fan. Just looked it up. Like I get making him a unique joker. But he feels like one of the joker's henchmen from the games. It changes what we all understand the joker to look like. Visually w all know the joker by his unique appearance.
— Cody (Squatch) Decker (@DG_BeardGains) September 22, 2018
Others, while liking this latest look, still wish that the film had taken a different route, or remain skeptical about the project as a whole:
I love phoenix's joker look but honestly I'm disappointed it's a makeup look and they're not going for the chemical wash look
— jade (@chillpleb) September 22, 2018
this new joker looks neat but still dont know what to think of this movie
— happy mal_o_ween (@mal1981sj) September 22, 2018
Admittedly, it’s not hard to see why someone would remain a little doubtful that the director of The Hangover Part III can pull off a dark and gritty character study that does justice to one of the most beloved villains in comic book history. Still, Phoenix’s take on the character has already fared better with many fans than Jared Leto’s Joker has, and while the latter version is still the go-to Clown Prince of Crime for the DCEU, some wouldn’t be too upset to see Phoenix take his place:
So hey, @wbpictures? I’m just putting this out here, if you want to replace Jared Leto’s Juggalo Joker w/ Joaquin Phoenix’s for your new DC film universe mission statement, ain’t no one gonna stop you or complain.#JokerMovie https://t.co/2atp02oFy8
— Tyler Freshcorn (@tyler_freshcorn) September 22, 2018
Regardless of where you currently stand on this project, you still have many months for your opinion to be swayed either way, and if these last few days have been anything to go by, this is one comic book movie that the studio isn’t too shy about sharing material from. As such, expect plenty more images pore over before the Joker movie finally hits theaters on October 4th, 2019.
