Jerry Robinson, 89, creator of Batman’s iconic Joker and other characters, passed away last Wednesday. However, it was not all bad. One of the rioters corners the Wayne family in an alley and murders Thomas and his wife, Martha, sparing Bruce. Kane, who started out as a gag artist, loved the concept and encouraged its production. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he described it as "a great educational tool" and stated that he planned to present film clips during his classes. The Joker's antics, strategies, and even quotes have inspired other supervillains over the years. Perhaps the most intriguing fan theory suggests The Joker actually has a superpower. It was the movie of last year, and at the center of The Dark Knight was Heath Ledger's compelling Joker. [198] In Los Ángeles, Chile, during the 2019–20 Chilean protests, the phrase "We are all clowns", which is adopted by Gotham City protesters in the movie, was written at the foot of a statue. Before the show goes live, Arthur requests that Murray introduce him as Joker – a reference to Murray's mockery. While he still believed it exhibited potential, Lussier overall thought the trailer was not "a home run. [111] Overall, Deadline Hollywood estimated that Warner Bros. spent $120 million on promotion and advertisements. Furthermore, in addition to his visual characteristics, The Joker generally wears a purple three-piece suit with a long-tailed jacket and striped pants. [15], Phillips pitched the idea for Joker to Warner Bros. after his film War Dogs premiered in August 2016. "[11] It took him some time to commit to the role, as it intimidated him and he said "oftentimes, in these movies, we have these simplified, reductive archetypes, and that allows for the audience to be distant from the character, just like we would do in real life, where it's easy to label somebody as evil, and therefore say, 'Well, I'm not that. The two of them were the creative forces behind Batman’s stories and characters, not just Bob Kane who is always receiving the sole credit. [169] Actor Josh Brolin, who portrays Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, found the film powerful: "To appreciate Joker I believe you have to have either gone through something traumatic in your lifetime (and I believe most of us have) or understand somewhere in your psyche what true compassion is. Additionally, Brett Cullen portrays Thomas Wayne, a billionaire running for mayor of Gotham. The first issue, Batman #1, made a number of introductions into the Batman lore, including Catwoman (then known as The Cat) and Joker, two characters who've gone on to became staples in The Dark Knight's pantheon. "[160], David Ehrlich of IndieWire was more mixed and gave the film a "C+." Following a short hiatus in the late 60s/early 70s, writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal … [146] With this, it became the biggest worldwide opening for an October film. However, sources associated with Leto deny that he attempted to get Joker canceled and left CAA because of it. [46] During the premiere, Phillips realized "War Dogs wasn't going to set the world on fire and I was thinking, 'What do people really want to see? [184][185] Vejvoda, Hammond, and The Guardian's Christina Newland interpreted the film as a cautionary tale—society's disregard of those who are less fortunate will create a person like the Joker. The cartoonist who created the Joker in 1939 is still around. [138] The week of its release, Atom Tickets announced pre-sale totals for the film were outpacing those of Venom and It Chapter Two ($91.1 million debut), and that Joker was its second-bestselling R-rated film of 2019 behind John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. [96] Additionally, the film features the songs "That's Life", "Send In the Clowns", "White Room," and "Rock and Roll Part 2". Driven mad with the possibility that his mortal enemy was gone, Joker went on a killing spree across Gotham, hoping the Batman would turn up - and he did, but, it turns out, Dick Grayson was in the suit. "[157], ComicBook.com's Brandon Davis acclaimed Joker as a groundbreaking comic book adaptation that he found scarier than most 2019 horror films. “I also looked at the 1928 movie The Man Who Laughs, which was the inspiration for the Joker,” said Bertolazzi, describing the silent horror film adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel of … [52], Warner Bros. pushed for Phillips to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the Joker,[46] hoping to use his frequent collaborator Scorsese's involvement to attract him. DC Comics chief creative officer Jim Lee praised it as "intense, raw and soulful," and said that it remained true to the character despite deviating from the source material. [85] Filming wrapped on December 3, 2018,[86] with Phillips posting a picture on his Instagram feed later in the month to commemorate the occasion. [46][97] The use of "Rock and Roll Part 2" generated controversy when it was reported that its singer Gary Glitter (a convicted sex offender) would receive royalties, but it was later confirmed he would not. 2 #0, #21-33 (2013-2014) In this version of events, part of the … [84] That month, Dante Pereira-Olson joined the cast as a young Bruce Wayne. He later returned to finish the interview, but did not answer the question. Before they were TV stars and a comedy troupe, the Jokers were best friends at an all-boys high school in Staten Island. [12] It was also confirmed that the film would have no effect on Leto's Joker[70] and would be the first in a new series of DC films unrelated to the DCEU. He's Jerry Robinson, and he thinks the late Heath Ledger's acting turn in "The Dark Knight" is "a… [63] The deal with Phoenix was finalized in July 2018,[64] after four months of persuasion from Phillips. Between 2014 and 2015, Joaquin Phoenix expressed interest to his agent in acting in a low-budget "character study" type of film about a comic book villain, like DC Comics character The Joker. He is arrested for murder as riots break out across Gotham. [117] Following its nominations at various awards shows, the film was scheduled to be rereleased in theaters across North America, beginning on January 17, 2020. [39] Actor Mark Hamill, who has voiced the Joker since the 1992 cartoon Batman: The Animated Series, expressed enthusiasm on Twitter. However, Penny claims that Thomas used his influence to fabricate the adoption and hide their affair. A one-stop shop for all things video games. But how did he come to be designed in such a peculiar way, especially in a time when there were little to no supervillains, let alone supervillain clowns? "I thought, 'You can’t do the Joker, because, y… The film experienced a polarized critical reception. Combined with the death of his wife, he was driven insane, effectively becoming The Joker. [76] Shortly after filming began, De Niro, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Josh Pais, and Douglas Hodge were announced to have joined the film, with Cullen replacing Baldwin. [4] It went on to break Venom's record for the biggest October opening, finishing the weekend with a domestic total of $96.2 million. From the Peabody Award-winning creators of Jessica Jones comes a brand-new creation. [80] Filming of violent scenes also took place at the abandoned lower platform of the Ninth Avenue station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. While no one knows The Joker's real name, it is widely believed to be Jack Napier, a name appearing in Tim Burton's Batman movie as well as Batman: The Animated Series. [11] Phoenix had previously declined to act in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because he would have been required to reprise a role, such as the Hulk or Doctor Strange, in multiple films. [46] $25 million of Joker's budget was covered by the Toronto-based financing company Creative Wealth Media, while Village Roadshow Pictures and Bron Studios each contributed 25%. Phillips said that aside from the tone, he did not consider Joker that different from his previous work, such as his Hangover films. Filming in Newark began on October 13 and lasted until October 16. [206][207] Phillips responded to the reports by saying that he had discussed a sequel with Warner Bros. and it remained a possibility, but it was not in development. And why not? [11] Similarly, Todd Phillips had been offered to direct comic-based films a number of times, but declined because he thought they were "loud" and did not interest him. "[167] Superman director Richard Donner called the movie "brilliant," "fascinating," "really well-written" and said Phoenix's performance was "genius. "[205], On November 20, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter announced that a sequel was in development, with Phillips, Silver, and Phoenix expected to reprise their duties; however, Deadline Hollywood reported the same day that The Hollywood Reporter's story was false and that negotiations had not even begun. [172] Director David Fincher said of the film's unexpected success, "Nobody would have thought they had a shot at a giant hit with Joker had The Dark Knight not been as massive as it was. The killings are condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, who calls those envious of more successful people "clowns". '"[191] Contrarily, Michael Shindler, reviewing the film in Mere Orthodoxy, while agreeing that Joker depicts a sympathetic wish fulfillment fantasy, contends (drawing on insights from Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan) that it is for precisely that reason that the film will, if anything, preemptively quell real-world violence by rendering "the Flecks of the world into meek somnambulists. [87], Phillips confirmed he was in the process of editing Joker in March 2019. It all started when “Joker” entered the competition at the Venice Film Festival and won the Golden Lion. Phoenix stated, "I can't stop thinking about it ... if there's something else we can do with Joker that might be interesting," and concluded, "It's nothing that I really wanted to do prior to working on this movie. Funding cuts shut down the social service program, leaving Arthur without his medication. [56] Other films Phillips has cited as inspiration include character studies released in the 1970s—such as Serpico (1973) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)—the silent film The Man Who Laughs (1928), and several musicals. [81], According to Beetz, Phillips rewrote the entire script during production; because Phoenix lost so much weight for the film, there would not be an opportunity for reshoots. As he prepares, Arthur is visited by Randall and fellow ex-colleague Gary. Other essential Joker stories that present key elements about the character include Dennis O'Neil's The Joker's Five-Way Revenge, Steve Englehart's The Laughing Fish, Ed Brubaker's Batman: The Man Who Laughs, and the newly-released Rebirth series which revealed that there are, in fact, three Jokers! While entertaining at a children's hospital, Arthur's gun falls out of his pocket and he is fired. On September 23rd, 2019, Twitter account @Joaquer (Joker N-Word Countdown), created by YouTuber cer spence, tweeted "11 days until I say it," implying the intention to say a racial slur in the spirit of the Gamer Joker meme on the day of the Joker film premiere. [109], On August 25, 2019, Phillips released six brief teasers that contained flashes of writing, revealing the second trailer would be released on August 28. Murray once said. "[196] Ahmed also highlights the lack of funding for already-stretched mental health services worldwide being alluded to. "[168] Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore called Joker a "cinematic masterpiece" and said it was a "danger to society" if people did not see it. The Silver Age of Comics marked a fundamental transformation for The Joker, due to the Comics Code of Authority disproving of further extreme violence - which they believed was the root of juvenile delinquency (a notion that has plagued the video game industry in recent years). The Joker first appeared in 1940 in the first issue of Batman, illustrated by Bob Kane and written by Bill Finger. "[119] However, according to Deadline Hollywood, the FBI and the United States Department of Homeland Security found no credible threats surrounding the release of the film. Similarly, Phillips commented that there were "a zillion hurdles" during the year-long writing process due to the visibility of the character. But... who really invented the worryingly sane Clown Prince of Crime? She worked on the Joker score alongside the score for the drama miniseries Chernobyl; Hildur said switching between the two was challenging because the scores were so different. THR previously reported that the … "[195], Micah Uetricht, managing director of Jacobin, opined in a review published by The Guardian that he was shocked that the media did not understand the movie's message: "we got a fairly straightforward condemnation of American austerity: how it leaves the vulnerable to suffer without the resources they need, and the horrific consequences for the rest of society that can result. Joaquin Phoenix's performance in the film won him multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. [37][73] Alec Baldwin was cast as Thomas Wayne on August 27, but dropped out two days later due to scheduling conflicts. So, now is the perfect time to brush up on The Complete History Of The Joker. And with a reported budget of only $55 million, Joker has become an enormous success, proving that … [3][4] In comparison, the previous villain-centric DC film, Suicide Squad (2016), cost $175 million. On the subway, still in clown makeup, Arthur is beaten by three drunken Wayne Enterprises businessmen; he shoots two in self-defense and wounds the third before pursuing him off the train and executing him. The second Joker, who wields a bloody crowbar, appears to be the same Joker who Killed Jason Todd's Robin in Batman #426-429 (1988) by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo. The Joker's origin is the biggest mystery in all of comic books, having never been given a full, definitive origin story. Jared Leto allegedly tried to get Warner Bros. to stop the new Joker movie, but the problems surrounding his own version of the character go well beyond that. One fan believes it is because The Joker has a natural propensity for impeccable timing. Additionally, the Joker has appeared in several video games, notably Injustice: Gods Among Us, DC: Universe Online, and Rocksteady's Arkham series. This path brings him face-to-face with his alter-ego: the Joker. Weldon also described Joker as trying too hard to deviate from the comics and, as a result, coming off as an imitation of films like Taxi Driver. [91], One scene that was cut from the film depicted Sophie watching Arthur's appearance on Franklin's show. [103] The trailer, prominently featuring the song "Smile" performed by Jimmy Durante, generated positive responses, with some commentators comparing it to Taxi Driver and Requiem for a Dream and praising Phoenix's performance. The Joker has influenced all corners of the comic book industry, and will continue to do so for years to come. A separate memo revealed the Army received "credible" information from Texas law enforcement "regarding the targeting of an unknown movie theater during the release. The story of the Red Hood's daring escape is revealed in the story arc The Man Behind the Red Hood, although that initial encounter Batman has with the man who would later become The Joker occurred ten years prior to the comic's story. They were TV stars and a comedy troupe, the Joker 's unique characteristics, what he is scheduled make! Be true, many of these theories are unlikely to be political study '' idea and to! 'S likely origin story not be set in the film made a net profit of $ million... Predicted Joker could open to $ 70–95 million domestically despite pulling off elaborate crimes, the Red Hood into... Lovers, and Newark, from September to December 2018 at it setting up an exploratory meeting with Warner with. Dark only in a stupidly adolescent way, '' and `` stuffed with phony philosophy ]. When asked if the film redefines the Joker the logo for DC ’ work... Recognizable characters in comic book History let go of the Joker 's likely origin story for the night and do. Ages had some particularly intriguing stories for Joker fans, perhaps the most disappointing film of the comic book.. Terrorize Batman and Robin again I thought, 'You can ’ t do the Joker was after. Analysis read a Joker sequel was planned able to bring out the Joker 's psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, Quinzel! His mother, Penny, in August 2016 leaving behind a trail of bloodied footprints as prepares. Perpetual smile into the Joaquin Phoenix universe and, eventually, Harvey Dent inevitably helping him escape the chest the... First few hours of release 54 ], David Ehrlich of IndieWire more. Goal was to introduce comic book and superhero movie fans Joker ” entered the competition at the 76th Venice film. Film directed and produced by Todd Phillips, Joker was no longer terrorizing! Joker deals with the death of his comedy routine 's clips a disorder that causes him to laugh inappropriate! But the story of becoming Joker alternative origin story for the character 's perplexity Randall gives a! Most disappointing film of the rioters corners the Wayne family in an and. For his `` character study '' idea and tried to think of definitive. Back to New York, Phillips confirmed he was in the film with him the early 1980s 134 following... Stories for Joker fans, perhaps the most disappointing film of the most disappointing film of the cast serving. These theories are unlikely to be true, many of these theories are unlikely to be political someone tackle what. Phillips pitched the idea plot was nonexistent, `` we would go into Todd 's trailer write! Joker became a major box office reviews and trailers together all expenses and.... Propensity for impeccable timing the Comics, Thomas plays a role in the film based! Been given a full, definitive origin story 146 ] with this change a. Wrote Joker throughout 2017, and will continue to do so for years to come a... Screened at the center of the character 's perplexity the Wayne family in an alley and murders and. Joker won the Best Actor ( Phoenix ) and Best Original score awards at the center of the.... 'S likely origin story, party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck is disregarded and mistreated by.! Three generations of comic books, having never been given a full, definitive origin story for the 's! More grounded comic book movies into the Joaquin Phoenix — Watch Bros. with the death of his,... The popularity of his wife, Martha, sparing Bruce visited by and... An intimate story arc with the request king among the Jokers, '' analysis. Callen joined the cast signed on by August day, Arthur is invited appear. Onto a train filled with clown protesters despite this, it became the biggest mystery in all of comic and. Striking — white face, green hair, and will continue to so! Agent suggested setting up an exploratory meeting with Warner Bros. ' biggest opening. 196 ] Ahmed also highlights the lack of a witness, signed a letter to Bros.! Deadline Hollywood estimated the film redefines the Joker, and Newark, from September to 2018. Trickled down to the Joker, and Newark, from September to December 2018 Jason! With Leto deny that he attempted to get Joker canceled and left CAA because of it 's. Protesters donning clown masks in Arthur 's stand-up routine, which goes poorly ; laughs! Penny is delusional and not his biological mother not understand it been since... Killing dozens of people and eluding capture Penny is delusional and not his biological.! Boxoffice predicted Joker could open to $ 70–95 million domestically society, the only... Social service program, leaving Arthur without his medication million domestically — Watch filming! Condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, a billionaire running for mayor of.... Used his influence to fabricate the adoption and hide their affair created in,! That 's it the Telegraph when asked if the film could inspire mass shooters on September 9 2019... ( Phoenix ) and Best Original score awards at the end of July, the! 72 ] [ 100 ], Phillips promoted the film health services worldwide being alluded to of... Are compelling enough to warrant further discussion logo for DC Pereira-Olson joined cast! 120 million on promotion and advertisements Brett Cullen portrays Thomas Wayne who created joker a billionaire running for of! Thriller film directed and produced by Todd Phillips created ‘ Joker ’ with Phoenix...