Robert De Niro In Talks For Joaquin Phoenix ‘Joker’ Film From Todd Phillips

Deadline ^ | July 23, 2018 | Mike Fleming Jr.

[EdnaMode]

Robert De Niro is in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in Warner Bros’ Joker origins movie starring Joaquin Phoenix. Todd Phillips is directing and co-wrote the backstory tale of Batman’s archnemesis, which is described as a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale of a man disregarded by society who becomes the ultimate supervillain.

These talks have been going on for weeks, but a deal is near and they have finally worked out the financials. As opposed to the iconic turn Jack Nicholson took in the Joker role in Tim Burton’s Batman, De Niro will be bringing his iconic status to a different role. Sources said he’ll play a talk show host, a formative figure in the development of the character who eventually becomes The Joker. But De Niro’s character is not a villain, I’m told.

Co-scripted by Scott Silver (The Fighter), the untitled DC Universe film will do battle against Paramount’s sci-fi pic Gemini Man and Fox’s Amy Adams thriller The Woman in the Window which are also dated October 4, 2019.

Emma Tillinger Koskoff is producing the WB/Village Roadshow Joker movie, which Richard Baratta is exec producing. Filming begins in the fall on the pic, which is expected to be released under a new DC banner.

De Niro is repped by CAA.

[EdnaMode]

Maybe he plays a really dumb fake tough guy.

[WashingtonFire]

Can that old bastard actually make a good film for once ?

It’s been 30years since he made something that wasn’t complete trash

[BureaucratusMaximus]

DUCK FeNiro

[Skywise]

Won’t watch it

[neverevergiveup]

Joker = typecast

[tennmountainman]

It will bomb at the Box Office.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Muck that Futt

[GreatRoad]

DOA, strait to video, if they put robert dinero in it.

[GOP Poet]

A cry baby villain in real life plays the character of a nice guy.

[dainbramaged]

I guess I’m an old fogey for not paying to see films based on comic books, video games or Disneyland Rides.

[AC86UT89]

I will never watch another Robert DeZero movie again let alone PAY to watch one.

[GOP Poet]

Once they sign on De Niro I’m out.

[Dr. Sivana]

I rember the sad day when I purchased a copy of Action Comics, to finf out inside that Warner Communications bought out DC comics. The woman they put in charge wasn't even a comic books reader! It shows in the movies. When Marvel does a movie, they use Marvel storyboarding to give it a comic book feel in most of their pictures. Warner at its best feeds off of the graphic novels (Dark Knight). But all versions of Superman rather turn him into something else or simply reduce him to self-parody.

[rockrr]

So is he going to be The Joker’s Great Grampa?

[onedoug]

He can re-do his bombed “Frankenstein”, this time in Joker get-up.

[gibsonguy]

I’ve heard that Joaquin Phoenix is actually a good guy. He’s in bad company.

[antidemoncrat]

Won’t even watch his old movies now.

[Rummyfan]

DeNiro hasn't made a decent film since Ronin. And frankly after his behavior of late, I dont care if he ever appears in film again.

[Mr. K]

I’ll miss that one if he is.

[Peter W. Kessler]

A must-miss