Arthur Fleck is a man utterly disregarded by society. But how does he become the Clown Prince of Crime? We’ll find out next year in director Todd Phillips’ Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the title character. We got our first look at Phoenix as Fleck just a couple days ago, and today brings more casting information as filming has begun.
In addition to the previously announced Frances Conroy, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, and Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne, we’ve learned today the film also stars Bill Camp (Red Sparrow), Shea Whigham (Kong: Skull Island), Glenn Fleshler (“True Detective”), Josh Pais (“Ray Donovan”) and Douglas Hodge (“Penny Dreadful”).
Check out more on-set photos of Phoenix below.
Our first look at Joaquin Phoenix on the set of THE JOKER pic.twitter.com/DqS4ADFLfB
— Walt (@UberKryptonian) September 16, 2018
While story details are being kept under wraps, it has been previously reported that the origin story for Batman’s nemesis will be more of a mid-budget crime thriller than a superhero blockbuster. The film will reportedly be made on a $55 million production budget, with it being described as “darker and more experimental in tone and content.”
The screenplay for Joker is co-written by Phillips (The Hangover trilogy) and writer Scott Silver (The Fighter), and based on characters from DC. It’s being produced by Phillips and Bradley Cooper under their Joint Effort banner, and Emma Tillinger Koskoff. It’s executive produced by Richard Baratta, Joseph Garner and Bruce Berman.
The Joker will arrive on October 4, 2019.