Daily Times

Hollywood heavyweight Robert De Niro is in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in a new film based on the popular DC comics villain, the Joker. It is believed that De Niro will play the part of a talk show host who was somehow integral to the origin story of the Joker, portrayed by Phoenix. However, De Niro will not play a villainous role.

This will be De Niro’s first role in a comic book film and worlds away from his roles in classic mob films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s the ‘Godfather Part II’ and Martin Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas.’

The Joker will not be part of the DC Extended Universe that has released a slate of films in recent years, such as ‘Justice League’ and the forthcoming ‘Aquaman,’ and currently has Jared Leto cast as the Batman villain.

The film will be a separate entity, focusing on the origins of the villain and set in Gotham city in the early Eighties.

It will also have a comparatively smaller budget than most comic book films at $55 million and is set to be darker in tone and content than more recent DC offerings.

The Joker will be directed by Todd Philips, who is best known for directing ‘The Hangover’ trilogy, and the script has been co-written by Philips and Scott Silver, known for ‘8 Mile’ and ‘The Fighter.’ According to Deadline filming for ‘The Joker’ will begin in the autumn and it is set for release in October 2019.

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2018.