The Joker Origin Film is Said To Draw Inspiration From THE KILLING JOKE and Martin Scorsese's KING OF COMEDY
Some new information has surfaced for Warner Bros. Joker origin film that is currently in development with director Todd Phillips. Now we know some of the inspiration that is driving the story forward.
According to The Wrap, the film will "portray Batman’s arch-nemesis as a failed 1980s comedian who becomes the clown prince of crime after bombing with audiences." This seems to be in line with Alan Moore's 1988 graphic novel, The Killing Joke, which also depicted the Joker as a comedian who went insane after going through a series of horrific events. This all leads him to being the sadistic villain that he is.
A lot of fans have been wondering why Martin Scorsese is producing this Joker project. It doesn't seem like the kind of movie that he would involve himself in. Well, it might make more sense to learn that this Joker movie is also going to draw inspiration from Scorsese's 1982 movie King of Comedy, in which Robert De Niro plays a deluded comedian who can't catch a break.
The report also gives an update on Joaquin Pheonix's involvement. As you know at one point it was reported that he had agreed to star in the role. Then the actor said he didn't know anything about the role. Now this report says that Phoenix is very close to closing the deal.
The project is currently going through rewrites by Phillips and 8 Mile and The Finest Hours scribe Scott Silver.
This Joker film is expected to launch a new line of DC Comics adaptations that tell stories outside of the cinematic universe that DC Entertainment has been trying to build over the past few years.
I've included a trailer for the King of Comedy just in case you've never seen the movie or don't remember it.