Even as the DC movie universe expands into a more lighthearted affair for a lot of its big summer films, there are some pockets of darkness and danger still lurking, in fascinating ways. Case in point? Todd Philips' Joker, which sees Joaquin Phoenix becoming the Clown Prince Of Crime in a grimy, street-level new origin story. With the film in post-production, Philips shared a new image of his star via Instagram and confirmed in the comments that the film will be R-Rated across the pond.
That speaks to a continued level of trust in both the filmmaker and the film, with Warner Bros. seemingly happy to indulge a rating that could slightly limit the audience, but allows the team to make something that really digs into the human psyche and trawls the gutters of both the city and character.
Phoenix here plays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up whose fracturing mental state and rough encounters with the likes of Robert De Niro's talk show host Murray Franklin leads him into a life of clown-costumed crime in Gotham City.
Zazie Beetz, Brian Tyree Henry, Frances Conroy and Marc Maron are also in the cast for the film, which will be out in the UK on 4 October. Check out the most recent trailer right here.
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