Warner Brothers has released the trailer for Joker, which will be released on Oct. 4. There have been several films about Batman’s arch nemesis, but none have managed to take it to the deep side of why the Joker went mad quite like this one.
The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, the Joker, and will be set in 1980s Gotham, depicting Fleck as a stand-up comedian who reaches a breaking point and becomes criminally insane, leading to his role as the Joker.
Watch the teaser below:
Frances Conroy plays Penny Fleck, the Joker’s mother, who all things lead back to. The Joker’s mother is his inspiration and teaches him to always spread joy and while he truly tries to follow her advice, it becomes harder as he learns how cruel people can be, especially to him.
A contributing factor in his transformation is the death of his mother, who he was caring for. Fleck references his mother several times during the film.
After the Fleck’s things are stolen, he is chastised, beat up, ridiculed, and humiliated, the transformation begins. He asks, “Is it just me or is it getting crazier out there?” Fleck becomes more depressed and withdrawn — a social outcast.
Regarding Fleck’s role, Warner Bros. Pictures described it like this, “Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.”
The trailer for the “Joker” movie starring Joaquin Phoenix is here and it’s a lot 😱🤡 https://t.co/UrO0hRWQrF
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) April 5, 2019
Zazie Beetz, star of Atlanta and Deadpool 2, Brian Tyree Henry, who starred in the Oscar-nominated film If Beale Street Could Talk, and actor Robert De Niro also join the cast. DeNiro plays a talk show host who can later also claim some responsibility for the Joker’s eventual madness.
While it was rumored that Alec Baldwin would play the role of Thomas Wayne, Batman’s dad, scheduling issues left the role to be filled by Ghost Rider’s Brett Cullen. Beetz will play the role of single mother, Sophie Dumond, a possible love interest of the Joker. Comedian Marc Maron will play the role of a booking agent for the talk show hosted by De Niro.
Bill Camp, Glenn Fleshler, Shea Whigham, and Josh Pais are also in the cast, but no information is available about their characters.
The film is directed by Todd Phillips, who directed The Hangover movies.
Joker had a budget of $55 million, and completed filming between Sept. 2018 and Dec. 2018.
