Joker Origin Movie Setting and Tone Revealed

DC Comics fans were hit with a bombshell announcement today that Warner Bros. is currently developing a new, stand-alone origin story movie for Batman’s popular foe the Joker and along with the surprise announcement came some intriguing information about the film’s setting.

According to Deadline the film, which will be directed and co-produced by The Hangover‘s Todd Phillips, written by 8 Mile‘s Scott Silver, and with Martin Scorsese also co-producing, will have a setting more akin to an early-’80s crime film with a dark, gritty tone similar to films like Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

Phillips and Silver are reportedly already writing the script, but no details on production or a possible release date have been announced. What we do know is that the film will be the first under Warner Bros. new banner that allows for exploration of the DC Universe and canon without every film needing to be considered part of or connected to the “DC Cinematic Universe.” This new banner will also allow for the films to use different actors in iconic character roles.

And a change in actor for the Joker appears to be the situation for this film. The report suggests that the Clown Prince of Crime will not be played by Jared Leto. That doesn’t mean that Leto is done with his turn as the Joker. He’s is expected to return for Suicide Squad 2 and Gotham City Sirens.

It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?