Gotham: David Mazouz Calls Jerome ‘Proto-Joker’

Fans have long eyed Gotham’s Jerome as the eventual Joker, and David Mazouz added some fuel to that fire.

Mazouz appeared at Heroes and Villains Fan Fest this past weekend. During the panel, he was asked about the carnival scene he did with Jerome last season, to which he said: “That proto-batman/proto-joker relationship was really there and it was the first real Batman vs Joker moment we’ve had so far.”

He also referred to Selina Kyle as Proto-Catwoman, so fans have known for awhile that her transition into the infamous character was coming soon. This could mean that maybe Gotham is setting fans up for a full Joker reveal down the road with Jerome, despite some reports to the contrary.

Mazouz spoke to ComicBook.com about the show’s handling of Batman’s iconic villains, and how he would love to see them reach their destined potential before the show’s over.

“I feel like we’re, the show is leading up to a certain point. It’s leading up to the penguin. It’s leading up to the Riddler. It’s leading up to Batman. It’s leading up to Commissioner Gordon, and I feel like, I really hope that we’ll be able to see our versions of those characters be full blown, those characters before the show ends, and I feel like the Joker is one of those characters that really, really is crucial to the Batman lore. I think I’d be comfortable saying that he is the most important character after Batman in the Batman lore.”

You can view the official description for Gotham below.

Gotham’s origin story continues to unfold, and as the show enters its fourth season, the stakes will be higher than ever! With the Court of Owls decimated, the aftermath of the Tetch virus crippling the city, and every (surviving) villain in Gotham‘s underworld jockeying for power, Jim Gordon and the GCPD will have their hands full. And that’s just the beginning! What threat does Ra’s al Ghul pose, and will Penguin regain his title as the King of Gotham? What new villains are in store for season four, and what does Bruce Wayne‘s season finale reveal mean for Gotham City — and his ultimate destiny?

Gotham stars Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon, Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, Morena Baccarin as Leslie Thompkins, Sean Pertwee as Alfred, Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Erin Richards as Barbara Kean, Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle/the future Catwoman, Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma/the future Riddler, Jessica Lucas as TabithaGalavan, Chris Chalk as Lucius Fox, Drew Powell as Butch Gilzean, Maggie Geha as the future Poison Ivy, Michael Chiklis as Detective Nathaniel Barnes, Benedict Samuel as Mad Hatter.

Gotham returns to FOX for Season 4 this fall.

MORE GOTHAM: Sean Pertwee Teases Dick Grayson On Gotham / Gotham Star On Potential Of Barbara And Jim Getting Together Again / Gotham Cast Talks About Watching David Mazouz Grow Up