Joaquin Phoenix won’t talk Joker role, but admits it could be interesting

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Earlier this year, it was reported that Joaquin Phoenix had met with Todd Phillips about playing the Joker in Phillips' upcoming Joker origin movie, and although negotiations hadn't yet gotten underway, the actor had allegedly agreed to the role. Weeks later, Phoenix claimed that he didn't have any idea about the project when he was asked about it. Playing coy while negotiations are underway? Possibly. Fandango got the chance to speak with Joaquin Phoenix while the actor was promoting YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE and asked him point blank whether he was going to be playing the Joker.

As expected, Phoenix still isn't talking, but he did admit that the role could be interesting. "I don’t know… it could be an interesting character, I don’t know," said Phoenix, with Fandango noting that he had a "bit of a mischievous grin on his face." The actor continued, saying that he's up for any role provided that he's interested in the project.

I see it as any other movie. I wouldn’t say… “I won’t do Westerns.” It depends on what it is. I don’t really care about the genre, I care about the character and the filmmaker. If you have the ability to transcend the genre, then that’s what you want to do. So I wouldn’t say, hands down, no – I wouldn’t do that kind of movie. There are things where I’ve flirted with the possibility where there was the potential for this to be… something that’s actually interesting to me. But then for whatever reason they never got to that place where everyone else feels the same way. And that’s key. Everyone has to want to explore the same thing or else it just doesn’t f**king work. I’m not opposed to it. I don’t make decisions on budget or things like that – it’s really the filmmaker and the character.

Joaquin Phoenix has flirted with the comic-book genre before, having previously been in talks to play Doctor Strange and Warner Bros. having expressed interest in Phoenix taking on a role in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, but he's yet to make the leap. Will Phoenix finally bite the bullet and sign on for Todd Phillips' Joker film? He'd certainly be excellent in the role, but I suppose time will tell. It's been rumoured that the film will portray the Joker as a failed 1980s comedian who snaps after bombing with audiences, much like Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's "The Killing Joke," which jives with the initial description of the project as a "gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in early-80's Gotham City" which is meant to feel more like TAXI DRIVER or RAGING BULL than a regular DCEU film.

Place your bets. What are the odds that Joaquin Phoenix actually agrees to take on the Joker role?

Joaquin Phoenix will next be seen in YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE which hits theaters on April 6th.