Todd Phillips And Joaquin Phoenix Unveil The Untold Story Of Joker

After riding the wave of success with The Hangover trilogy and producing the blockbuster hit A Star is Born, writer/director Todd Phillips set out to create something groundbreaking. And boy, did he deliver! Joker, the Joaquin Phoenix-led film, dives deep into the psyche of Batman's infamous nemesis, marking the first standalone villain origin story in the world of superhero cinema.

Todd Phillips: A New Take on Storytelling

Speaking to the press at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, Todd explained, "This film feels different from much of my previous work, but at its core, it's still storytelling. I was heavily inspired by the films I grew up watching—those deep character studies from the '70s. So, I thought, why not bring that same approach to the comic book genre? Why not take a deep dive into a character like Joker? With an actor of Joaquin's caliber, I knew we could create something truly extraordinary."

Joaquin Phoenix: Bringing Arthur Fleck to Life

Enter Joaquin Phoenix, who takes on the iconic role of Joker and his alter-ego, Arthur Fleck. This film explores Arthur's descent into madness and his transformation into the legendary villain. "What really drew me to this project," Joaquin shared during the festival, "was the opportunity to approach it in our own unique way. I didn't look to past versions of the character; this felt like our creation. What fascinated me most was the fact that he's so difficult to define—and honestly, you don't even want to define him."

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He continued, "There were moments when I found myself identifying certain traits in his personality, but I would pull back because I wanted to keep a sense of mystery. Every day on set felt like we were uncovering new layers of the character. I wanted the freedom to create something that couldn't be easily categorized. I didn't want a psychologist to be able to pinpoint exactly what kind of person he was."

When asked if he has a tendency to gravitate toward troubled characters, Joaquin responded, "In this case, I was more interested in the light within Arthur—though I admit, it's hard to find the right words to describe it. It wasn't just about his torment; it was about his joy, his struggle to find happiness and connection. To experience warmth and love. I don't think of a character as simply 'tormented.' This character meant so many different things to me at different points in the process. The more unpredictable he was, the more inspiring it became."

Await the Arrival of Joker

Audiences will get to witness the results of this incredible collaboration on October 4 when Joker hits theaters. Prepare yourself for a journey that will challenge your perceptions and leave you questioning the line between hero and villain.