It looks like we’re up for another cool comic book movie soon. Deadline reports that Warner Bros. is cooking up a new Batman spin-off revolving around one of the most audacious villains of all time: The Joker. One of the masked hero’s best-known enemies, it makes perfect sense to dig into the origin of the psychopathic jester. The best thing about it is that legendary director Martin Scorsese will be on board along with “The Hangover’s” Todd Phillips, who will co-write a script with “The Fighter’s” Scott Phillips.

Big names, big story

According to Deadline, the new Joker movie will be the first film under a new banner that’s yet to be named in which WB can expand the canon of DC properties and work on storylines that will feature different actors playing the iconic comic book characters.

This takes Jared Leto completely out of the picture.

While Leto is currently playing the character in the DC expanded universe, including in the forthcoming “Suicide Squad” sequel and “Gotham City Sirens,” the upcoming movie “will launch the character with a different actor, possibly younger”. It’s no secret that the portrayal of the Joker in that film rubbed many people the wrong way, and if Warner Bros. wants to change the public perception of him, it’ll need to make some serious alterations to the character for his next appearance in the franchise.

Meanwhile, Scorsese appears to be serving as an aesthetic and stylistic influence, with Deadline’s report indicating “Raging Bull,” “Taxi Driver,” and “The King of Comedy” as tonal references.

Silver and Phillips are reportedly working on a script already; however, it remains to be seen when the film is expected to be released.

Are Batman fans ready for a new Joker?

Best known for his comedies like “The Hangover” franchise, Phillips has been trying to jump into new genres for years. He previously eyed “The Gambler” remake at Paramount that Rupert Wyatt ended up directing.

His production company Joint Effort that he co-founded with Bradley Cooper was also intended for him to dip his feet into more genres.

Batman fans seem rather annoyed that Phillips will take charge of the new Joker movie. On Twitter, a wave of fans commented that the character works best because his life before the makeup and mayhem is a complete mystery.

There is no word yet on anything else about The Joker origins film, and as it’s completely independent from the ongoing DC Extended Universe continuity, it won’t probably require too much shifting of the existing slate of films.
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