Some very good picks here. Who would you cast?
With news that Todd Phillips is in talks to direct a standalone film about The Joker's origins, people are already speculating about who should play the Clown Prince of Crime. Regarding the film - which Martin Scorsese is set to produce- we're promised "a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in early-80s Gotham City," but one thing needs to be stressed.
Deadline have reported that the film “will launch the character with a different actor, possibly younger."
If this is true then Jared Leto will not be playing The Joker in Phillips' version.
“The intention is to make a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in early-80s Gotham City that isn’t meant to feel like a DC movie as much as one of Scorsese’s films from that era, like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull or The King Of Comedy,” Deadline have reported.
Again, it's worth remembering that the report stressed the idea that the producers may hire someone that's 'possibly younger.' Emphasis on the word possibly here.
With this in mind, here are some of the actors that people have suggested to play Batman's arch nemesis. In the immortal words of Heath Ledger's Joker, let's introduce a little anarchy.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Has worked with Scorsese many times before and as we saw in Django Unchained, he's capable of delivering a terrific performance as the villain.
You could see it but he might be 'too big' of a star for the project.
https://twitter.com/YouDontKnowWho_/status/900296064481148928
https://twitter.com/singfromthehair/status/900307762818818048
Willem Dafoe
Worked with Scorsese on The Last Temptation of Christ and The Aviator. He did play the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, but Dafoe has built a reputation on playing unhinged and manic characters.
The resemblance is uncanny.
https://twitter.com/champagnx_/status/900187105548156928
Iwan Rheon
There's no denying that Ramsay Bolton was an iconic TV villain. Now that would be a very interesting choice.
He's not the only Game of Thrones star that people want in the role though.
https://twitter.com/NightKingBoi/status/898651885493792768
https://twitter.com/RottenTomatoes/status/900347915624894465
Michael Pitt
In case you need a reminder, he already worked with Scorcese in Hugo and Boardwalk Empire where he played Jimmy Darmody. A young actor of real substance.
https://twitter.com/KnightmareBeast/status/900301978311458816
https://twitter.com/JokerCritic/status/789926904065167361
Michael Shannon
Consistently brilliant in everything that he does. This being said, he did play General Zod in Man of Steel, so comic-book fans might have to make a leap of fate.
He'd be great though.
https://twitter.com/JoePezzula/status/900142604079308800
The other agents of chaos.
Adam Driver is already the villainous Kylo Ren so we can't really see him taking on the role.
Jake Gyllenhaal was so incredibly creepy in Nightcrawler that he could come into serious consideration.
Jack O'Connell was an absolute tour de force in '71 and Starred Up. His career is destined for bigger things and as for Sam Rockwell, well, he's arguably the finest actor around and has that giddy energy that's required for the role.
This being said, Christopher Nolan's decision to cast Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight was very unexpected, so we might be treated to another similar piece of casting.
Do you have any other suggestions on who should be wearing those famous scars? Let us know.
https://twitter.com/HCMovieReviews/status/900323493639860224
