Warner Bros.’ untitled Joker origin film is perhaps the most exciting production presently gestating. When it was announced last year that The Hangover director Todd Phillips would helm the picture, news that Martin Scorsese had signed on as co-producer soon followed, and a casting decision seemed imminent with Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio being eyed for the titular role.
While Phillips and Scorsese remain attached, the rumours about DiCaprio’s impending casting dispersed and have since been replaced with hearsay surrounding another A-lister, Joaquin Phoenix. Granted, nothing’s been confirmed just yet and making things more confusing is the fact that the actor refuses to comment on it.
A few days ago, we reported that Phoenix had been asked about his possible portrayal of the Joker, to which he replied with a “mischievous grin” and said: “I don’t know… it could be an interesting character, I don’t know.” This time, it was Entertainment Weekly who posed the question to the You Were Never Really Here star, and they received an equally frustrating answer.
“This is all super interesting. I have no idea about this. There’s absolutely nothing I could say about this subject,” said Phoenix.
Joaquin Phoenix is one of the few who’ve managed to steer clear of the superhero sickness, but with each passing day, the evidence mounts. He’s been suspiciously guarded ever since Variety reported that the three-time Academy Award nominee had entered talks to play the Clown Prince of Crime earlier this year and his latest response is reminiscent of what you’d hear when someone’s concealing a secret that they desperately want to share with the world but can’t because they were sworn to confidentiality.
One thing’s for sure, Phoenix’s unwillingness to deny the Joker rumours will only fan the flames even further.
