Joaquin Phoenix in Talks to Play The Joker in Standalone Film

Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to put on a smile. The actor is in negotiations to play The Joker in DC’s upcoming standalone film about the Batman archnemesis, per Variety. Todd Phillips (The Hangover) is set to direct the film, with Martin Scorsese prodscing.

While Phillips has made it known that Phoenix is the top choice and the actor has accepted the offer, the studio has yet to sign off. If he signs in, it would be his first time in a comic book film after several near-misses including almost playing The Hulk in The Avengers and Doctor Strange, as well as Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The Joker origin film is said to be a gritty, hard-boiled crime film set in an early-1980s Gotham City. The film is meant to evoke the grounded feel of Scorsese’s films like Taxi Driver and is the first under Warner Bros’ DC banner that is not connected to the DC Extended Universe.