Unexpected First Look at Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker

Director Todd Phillips has posted our first look at Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker (a.k.a. Arthur Fleck) in Warner Bros. Pictures‘ Joker origin movie, and it is not what you would expect. Check out the photo in the gallery below, and you can also click on the link to Just Jared for a look at some of Phoenix on the Harlem, New York set!

It looks like Joaquin Phoenix has started filming as the Joker for the standalone #Joker movie! https://t.co/0uwG4l34o0

— JustJared.com (@JustJared) September 16, 2018

Phillips is co-writing and directing the Joker film. It will explore the life of a man destined to become Gotham City’s Clown Prince of Crime. The story takes place in the ’80s, outside of the DC Extended Universe series of films. Early word suggests that Joker‘s tone is being compared to Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. That’s fitting, because Scorsese is also co-producing the Joker movie.

Joaquin Phoenix is slated to play the title character of Joker, with Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz and Marc Maron playing supporting roles. Joker is now filming in New York City, and it is expected to hit theaters on October 4, 2019.

What do you think of the first look at Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker? Let us know in the comments below!