How many Joker movies can one studio put into production? Warner Bros., the studio behind the ever-complicated DCEU, has two in production, but the day is still young. Evidently, the company, still bruised by the release of “Justice League” and struggling to find a sustainable strategy for their superhero universe, is reportedly giving Jared Leto’s Joker character his own movie. Haven’t we heard this before?
Sort of. There was the talk of a real Joker/Harley Quinn team-up movie. That’s not happening and instead, audiences will receive “Birds Of Prey,” a Harley Quinn-centered supervillain movie that will likely feature many DCEU female villains. There’s also a Joker origin tale from director Todd Phillips and producer Martin Scorsese in the works, with Joaquin Phoenix maybe in the title role, that totally confused matters last year. And there was loose talk that Leto’s version of the Joker could receive his own solo big-screen treatment, but this is the first time we’re hearing anything close to an official confirmation.
So yes, now there are two solo Joker movies in the works over at WB. In an attempt to… hedge their bets?… Warner has created a separate, not-connecting “origins banner” that lives outside of the current cinematic DC universe that features Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman and Leto as Batman’s main adversary.
Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” which may or may not star Ben Affleck would likely fall into the “origins” side-banner and yes, confuse things further.
There’s no date or timetable for the Joker movie, but it’s apparently in development. But so are projects like Cyborg, The Flash, Nightwing, Green Lantern Corps, Deathstroke, Lobo and nearly dozens of others so you may not want to hold your breath. Evidently, the studio is now looking for a writer so it’s early days, but don’t be surprised if Warner pivots in a totally different direction if/when any of their other films turn out to be a big hit. [Variety]
