Yesterday, we got our first creepy (and effective) Joker movie poster. And now, we have our first trailer for the Batman villain’s solo movie. And, um, this is unlike any DC movie you’ve ever seen.
Todd Phillips (The Hangover movies) directs and Joaquin Phoenix is the Clown Prince of Crime in a new, grimy take on the Big Bad’s origin story. While plot details are thin, the movie will reportedly be King of Comedy by way of Taxi Driver — as aspiring comedian Arthur (Phoenix) struggles to take care of his mother (Six Feet Under‘s Frances Conroy) in a Gotham City that emotionally and physically beats down on him. He eventually turns to crime, dons the Joker’s signature look, and puts himself on the path to become the most infamous rogue in Batman’s considerable gallery. Watch the teaser trailer below:
Right from the jump, one can see the Scorsese influence all over this movie — there’s even a dash of Mean Streets, especially in Phoenix’s appearance channeling De Niro’s character from that seminal ’70s classic. Speaking of De Niro, there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot of the Oscar-winner on stage before what looks like Johnny Carson-era Tonight Show curtains. (In the movie, De Niro reportedly plays a Carson-like talk show figure that Phoenix’s comic is eager to impress.) De Niro played a disturbed stand-up comic obsessed with his talk show idol in King of Comedy, so the nods to that underrated Scorsese masterpiece are a welcome and unsuspected choice here.
Oh, and did you see that kid on the other side of the fence that Joker makes smile? Could that be a young Bruce Wayne? Kevin Smith seems to think (or know) so. He tweeted:
SPOILERS! This joke is killing! Love the tone and feel of this trailer! Can’t believe we get to see the cinematic fall and rise of the Clown Prince of Crime! And that little boy behind the gates who he makes smile? I’m guessing that kid might see a very dark night one day… https://t.co/1mSQmnv9Ac
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 3, 2019
Whomever that kid is, we are all in on seeing how — or if — this Joker will ever cross paths with The Caped Crusader. And it will be interesting to see how fans respond to this very detailed origin story for a villain that they previously loved for having very ambiguous origins in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
In addition to Phoenix, Conroy, and De Niro, Joker boasts an impressive ensemble, including Zazie Beets, Marc Maron, and Shea Whigham.
Check out the poster below. Joker arrives in theaters Oct. 4.
(Credit: WB/DC)
