With a trio of Academy Award calibre talent on board in the form of producer Martin Scorsese, star Joaquin Phoenix and writer Scott Silver, the untitled Joker origin film gestating over at Warner Bros. is perhaps the most promising superhero-based project currently in production. Unfortunately, though, the Todd Phillips-helmed picture has reportedly missed out on adding another Oscar winner.
Having been greenlit earlier this week, the motion picture in question has begun assembling personnel. Well, it’s attempting to, at least. According to Umberto Gonzalez – who’s a film reporter for The Wrap – two-time Academy Award winner Frances McDormand “passed on playing Joaquin Phoenix’s mom” in the untitled Joker origin movie.
Apparently, Warner Bros. “want a name for the role,” meaning someone of similar status, and McDormand – whom you might recognize from her most recent award-winning performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – is presumably one such talent on a lengthy laundry list that the studio’s presently running through.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Warner Bros. has supposedly been denied their first choice. Last year, before Joaquin Phoenix officially came aboard, the entertainment company assumedly had eyes for Leonardo DiCaprio as the Clown Prince of Crime. Obviously, that didn’t pan out. Not that we’re complaining, mind you.
Set to take place in Gotham City during the 1980s, the currently untitled Joker origin film – which will not be part of the DC Extended Universe, and is not to be confused with Jared Leto’s standalone Joker movie – has been compared to a “hard-boiled crime drama.” Sadly, as of right now, the feature has no concrete release date, and specifics on the plot remain under lock and key. Should that change, though, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.
