Joker (Todd Phillips)

[spslf]

The chaos continues.

Warner Bros and DC are in the early stages of yet another spinoff movie in the Batman universe, this time focusing on the origin story of the iconic villain, The Joker. They've tapped Todd Phillips (director of *The Hangover*) to co-write the script with Scott Silver (writer of *8 Mile*). Phillips will also direct the film, and Martin Scorsese is set to produce. This project will mark the launch of a new banner that allows WB to explore different, unique storylines within the DC universe, featuring different actors portraying the same iconic characters.

The aim is to craft an origin story that stands apart from any previous iterations. The Joker has previously been portrayed by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and most recently, Jared Leto in *Suicide Squad*, where he will reprise his role in the sequel and a *Harley Quinn* spinoff. This new film, however, will feature a new actor, potentially younger, and a unique take on the character.

An intriguing detail is the setting. The film will be a gritty, grounded, hard-boiled crime story set in early ’80s Gotham City, and it’s meant to have more in common with Scorsese’s films like *Taxi Driver*, *Raging Bull*, or *The King of Comedy*, rather than feeling like a typical DC movie. While Phillips and Silver are already working on the script, there’s no firm placement yet for the film within the broader DC schedule.

It’s clear that Warner Bros and DC are embracing a chaotic approach to their shared universe, which might be intentional. The logic behind it reflects a comic book tradition: letting different artists give their own interpretations of the characters—kind of like the *Elseworlds* label in comics. This could be a solution to their ongoing struggle to find coherence.

Still, with Phillips and Silver on board, it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.