Warner Bros.’ planned Joker origin movie, directed by Todd Phillips and produced by Martin Scorcese, has been picking up quite a bit of steam lately, with not only the film’s working title but a possible filming location and start date all bubbling to the surface this week. However, the latest scuttlebutt is that yet another high-caliber actor will join star Joaquin Phoenix on the big screen: Robert De Niro.
According to That Hashtag Show, De Niro is reportedly being eyed for the role of Murray Franklin, who’s described as a Caucasian male between the ages of 65 and 75 years old. De Niro, of course, is no stranger to co-producer Martin Scorcese, as the pair has collaborated on such major motion pictures as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Cape Fear and Casino.
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This movie is merely one of six films featuring the Clown Prince of Crime that Warner Bros. currently has in the works. In addition to this Elseworlds-style origin film, the Jared Leto iteration of the character will appear in the Harley Quinn solo film, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad 2, the Joker and Harley Quinn film and yet another solo project, which Leto will not only star in but also produce.
Reports of Phillips’ Joker origin film first surfaced in August 2017, when it was described as “a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film” set in early-1980s Gotham City. Produced by Scorsese, and written by Phillips and Scott Silver (8 Mile), the project is rumored to dramatically change The Joker’s backstory, making him a failed comedian.
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Via We Got This Covered