Joaquin Phoenix Says He Experienced "A Lot Of Fear" Before Accepting 'Joker' Role As Todd Phillips Teases Sequel Possibilities

Search
Home

When you’re an actor on the level of Joaquin Phoenix, you might think that there isn’t a role anywhere that might scare you. However, in a new interview with Total Film (via UPROXX), Phoenix explained why he felt actual fear before accepting the role as the lead character in Todd Phillips’ upcoming comic book film “Joker.”

“There was a lot of fear,” he admitted. “Now, when I look back, I don’t understand why.”

READ MORE: 2019 Fall Preview: The 45 Most Anticipated Films

But as Phoenix went on to explain, it’s not the type of fear you might be thinking. He was never scared of the role and thinking he couldn’t handle it. Instead, it was a different type of apprehension.

“There’s the fear where you cannot make a fucking step, and there’s the kind where it’s like, ‘OK, what do we do? That’s not good enough,’” the actor added. “And you’re digging deeper and deeper. I love that kind of fear. It guides us, makes us work harder.”

That motivation isn’t enough for Phoenix to take on a role in a comic book film, obviously. As someone who has turned down superhero roles in the past (most famously, the lead in Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange”), there had to be something special about “Joker” that made him want to make the leap into this genre.

READ MORE: ‘Joker’ Director Says Joaquin Phoenix Was “Unusually Comfortable” Getting Into The Villain’s Headspace

“I think oftentimes, in these movies, we have these simplified, reductive archetypes, and that allows for the audience to be distant from the character, just like we would do in real life, where it’s easy to label somebody as evil, and therefore say, ‘Well, I’m not that.’ And yet we all are guilty. We all have sinned,” said Phoenix.

He continued, “And I thought that here was this film, and these characters, where it wouldn’t be easy for you as an audience. There are times where you’re going to feel yourself connected to him, and rooting for him, and times when you should be repulsed by him. And I like that idea of challenging the audience, and challenging myself to explore a character like that. It’s rare to explore characters like that in any movies, but specifically in the superhero genre.”

Obviously, Phoenix did take the role in Phillips’ upcoming “Joker.” And based on early buzz, it would appear that the actor might be in line for some awards consideration for his portrayal of the villain. With Oscar talk and fan buzz, this has all the makings of a film that could launch a new franchise, which Warner Bros is always keen to look out for.

READ MORE: Joaquin Phoenix Details The Disturbing YouTube Rabbit Hole He Went Down To Capture His ‘Joker’ Laugh

But if WB calls the director and asks if Phillips would return for a sequel, it appears that he might be willing to discuss it.

“One thing I will tell you: I would do anything with Joaquin, any day of the week,” Phillips said. “There’s nobody like him. If he was willing to do it, and if people show up to this movie, and Warners came to us and said, ‘You know what? If you guys could think of something…’ Well, I have a feeling that he and I could think of something pretty cool.”

Before we talk sequel, however, the film has to earn a decent box office cume. And we’ll find out how “Joker” might fare when the film opens October 4.