Joker origins: Joaquin Phoenix in talks to play titular villain in Martin Scorsese-produced DC movie

Jared Leto recently portrayed the character in Suicide Squad

Joaquin Phoenix/Heath Ledger as The Joker (Getty Images/Warner Bros)

Joaquin Phoenix has reportedly entered talks to play the Joker in Warner Bros. as-yet-untitled origin movie for the villainous character.

With Todd Phillips scheduled to direct, the spin-off would be unrelated to Suicide Squad, which featured Jared Leto as the Joker.

According to Variety, Phillips has named Phoenix as the number one choice for the role, with the actor having reportedly agreed to star.

The pair met before the new year and are apparently awaiting the studio’s approval. Warner Bros. has decided not to comment on the situation.

Should Phoenix play the iconic character — famously depicted by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight — that will have zero effect on Leto, who will continue to play the Joker in the DC Extended Universe (the cinematic universe with Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Aquaman etc). Instead, the Joker origins movie would fall under a completely separate and currently unnamed DC banner.

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Previous reports have detailed how the movie will a “gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in early-’80s Gotham City” that borrows from early Martin Scorsese flicks Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The King Of Comedy — the iconic director having signed on to produce. For a time Leonardo DiCaprio was the first choice for the role.

Meanwhile, DC continue to work on other projects, the next being Aquaman, set for release in December this year.