It’s still not entirely clear what DC Comics is planning with their current run of movies post-Justice League, though the Shazam and Aquaman trailers suggest they’re running for a lighter, more Marvel tone. Aside from their upcoming core films, the Joker standalone flick starring Joaquin Phoenix continues to confuse – and now, apparently, Robert De Niro is joining the origin film.
Allow me to stress: this movie doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense in the context of DC’s other plans. But the Todd Phillips film does seem increasingly interesting. Deadline reports that De Niro will be joining the “gritty character study” as a talk show host who is somehow instrumental in the Joker’s origin story.
As we’ve reported several times now, this Joker movie, which is reportedly set in the 1980s, is not necessarily part of the existing DC film universe, which still holds Jared Leto‘s reasonably painful portrayal of the character as canon. This is a whole different thing, and Leto’s Joker will get a second spin in another standalone film. Which is not this one. Yes, it is confusing.
Deadline reports that De Niro’s role in this movie is not locked in, though they are in the late stages of the negotiation.
Perhaps soon we will learn more about this incredibly strange movie which seems to have no reason to exist but might – maybe – be good.
