It is whispered on the planet Hollywood that Joaquin Phoenix would be in negotiations to play the iconic character of the Joker.
The Joker is now rightly considered one of the best villains in cinema and by extension pop culture. He even recently capped Darth Vader at the post according to some polls. However, several questions may arise today. On the one hand, is it really a good idea to launch a new movie project about Batman's most famous enemy? Recall that this project was announced some time ago, while the character was still suffering from the fallout of the much-criticized Suicide Squad. On the other hand, isn't being interested in the origins of the character also likely to harm him? The particularity of the Joker is precisely that he is unpredictable: we do not know where he comes from, we do not know where he is going. It is on this point that its dangerous aspect is anchored and not on any physical powers or abilities. Wouldn't evoking its origins in detail be demystifying it in the eyes of the general public?
So the talent of Joaquin Phoenix is no longer to be demonstrated you will tell me: nominated for the Oscars three times (Gladiator, Walk the Line, The Master) and many successes to his credit (Her, The Village). But let's not forget that to embody such a character is to create a big expectation within the very large community of fans and many experienced actors have been able to pay the price.
Cinema in terms of business is above all a question of timing and that, the production companies, especially on the side of Warner Bros, seem to have forgotten. Everything is a rush since they try to follow in the footsteps of the box office monster that has become Marvel with the sustained support of the giant Disney. While by forgetting a little bit the financial aspect of the thing and focusing more on the adaptation and artistic aspect of their creations, DC could easily create real competition thanks to a darker atmosphere and strong characters, already well integrated into our collective imagination. Fortunately, this film should, it seems, break away from the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) and could thus give Warner another chance to get back on track in terms of comic book adaptations.
The feature film, which could be directed by a certain Martin Scorsese and which would take the form of a film noir, is only in its infancy. But after gangster Jack Nicholson, anarchist Heath Ledger and psychopath Jared Leto, what kind of Joker could the talented Joaquin Phoenix play us? While waiting to find out, you can find him on the poster of Mary Magdalene, in the role of nothing less than Jesus Christ, whose release in the cinema is scheduled for this year.
