We’ve had a bunch of cheeky looks at Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the Joker now that have ranged from seedy mature-age uni student to full-blown nightmare fuel.
But the latest look at the character is the clearest indication that the upcoming Joker will be something much different than what comic book movie fans are used to.
The film’s director Todd Phillips is neck-deep in editing Joker right now but he managed to find the time to share a snap of Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker on Instagram, and it is a look at the character that we’ve never seen before.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and there is much to glean from this new image of Arthur Fleck.
It looks dark and melancholic, not unlike a Nick Cave album cover or something out of a western film shot by Roger Deakins. The aesthetic and framing also screams “struggling stand-up comic”, which is perfect given how Joker will apparently lean heavily into Arthur failing as a comic before turning into the Clown Prince of Crime.
Look carefully and you’ll also see a bullet hole in the wall, which could mean anything at this point. Did it come from a moment of frustration from a gun-wielding Arthur? Did Arthur have some seriously dark thoughts and thought about ending it? Or was the bullet hole from the previous occupant of the room? Who knows at this point.
What we can conclude from the new photo is that Phoenix’s take on Arthur/Joker will be something completely unexpected and dark. Given how talented of an actor he is, the pieces are in place for this version of the Joker to match the masterclass that was Heath Ledger’s Joker.
We won’t have to wait too long to see some actual footage of Joker as the film is scheduled to come out on October 4 so expect a trailer for it quite soon.
With the super lighthearted Shazam! coming out in April, followed by this and then Birds of Prey next year, the DC movie universe suddenly seems a far more interesting place to be in than it was a year ago.