The internet lost its balance when Joaquin Phoenix was finalized to portray the role of DC’s one of the biggest villains – Joker as the fans seemed very disappointed with the filmmakers’ choice. But, DC has shortlisted another actor for a crucial role which won’t disappoint the fans. The actor they have chosen is Ghost Rider actor Bret Cullen for the role of Bruce Wayne’s father Thomas Wayne in Warner Bros.’ Joker as Alec Baldwin has been pulled out of the role. Baldwin was the first priority for sure but because of some scheduling conflicts, he thought that taking a step back would be the best option for both the parties and that’s what he did. With Warner Bros. trying to take the Joker to a whole new level, the incoming of Bret Cullen has made them a lot stronger in terms of cast.
Bret Cullen is no stranger to the madness of Joker as he appeared as a congressman in the Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. A gifted physician and a philanthropist to Gotham City, Dr. Thomas Wayne, MD inherited the Wayne family fortune after Patrick Wayne. When Dr. Wayne and his wife were murdered in a street robbery, Bruce Wayne becomes inspired to fight crime as the vigilante Batman and the rest, as they say, is history. So, it’s simple to understand that the role of Thomas Wayne isn’t a narrow one and will need an actor like Cullen to perfect it to its full potential.
So, with a lot of focus on the cast of the movie and with some big names joining the movie, Joker is catching a lot of eyes already from the fanverse. If we talk about the man of the moment Joaquin Phoenix, then a lot of pressure is on his shoulders as replicating the success Heath Ledger as Joker is surely a tough one to beat but the audience should also keep one thing in mind that if he manages to pull off an even better Joker in the upcoming movie then despite being emotional and rigid, fans and critics should hand over the throne to Joaquin (But only if he beats Heath).
In an interview with IndieWire where he was present to promote his upcoming movie, ‘The Sisters Brothers’ , Joaquin Phoenix was asked very normally about the challenges he’s facing and also the weight of the expectations on his shoulders as the famous comic book villain, Joker has been played by some really talented actors over the years with Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto and Oscar-winning performance from Heath Ledger just immortalized the status of ‘Joker’ as one of the most popular and intelligent villains of the superheroes’ world.
But, American Actor Phoenix gave an amazing reply by stating that,
“I could care less. I don’t really think that much about what people think. Who cares who cares? My approach to every movie is the same. What I’m interested in are the filmmaker and the idea of the character.”
With Phoenix explaining his approach and not getting distracted by the pressure over him is what every filmmaker would want from his actors and Director Todd Phillips is no different. The talented director, Phillips who is signed in to direct Joker, was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his amazing work in the movie Borat (2006). He is best known for directing and writing films, including Road Trip (2000), Old School (2003), Starsky & Hutch (2004), The famous Hangover Trilogy (2009, 2011, and 2013), Due Date (2010), and War Dogs (2016). Phillips will direct, co-write, and co-produce an origin story movie set during the 1980s for DC Comics’s supervillain, The Joker. The script will be co-written by Scott Silver.
So, a lot is on the line with DCEU’s big project and it has all the ingredients required to make a blockbuster again. But, Phoenix has to be at his absolute best because we all know the hard work Heath Ledger put behind the gigantic success of the Joker, also the vision and direction of Christopher Nolan which took the movie to an unbelievable note and to match that success, the whole cast and crew of the Joker will have to become as one because with this they can help DCEU head towards another ultimate glory.
So, for experiencing a crazy affair of death and madness as a failed comedian turns to a life of crime and chaos, we have to wait till October 4, 2019.
