Todd Phillips in Talks for Joker Sequel, Other DC Origin Stories!

After taking in over $1 billion worldwide, Warner Bros.’ Joker is one of the major success stories of the year. Now The Hollywood Reporter brings word that director Todd Phillips will return to helm a Joker sequel, co-writing once again with Scott Silver. But that’s not all! Phillips reportedly requested the studio give him the rights to a portfolio of DC characters and, despite hesitation from chairman Toby Emmerich, the filmmaker has walked away with the rights to at least one other DC character. His zeal is not surprising, given that he will earn an estimated $100 million from his take of the Joker grosses after deferring his upfront salary.

Who could this next origin story be about? It will not be Batman or Wonder Woman, whose origins we’ve already seen (or will see again when Matt Reeves’ The Batman hits screens), but the article speculates it could be Lex Luthor or possibly Darkseid. Who would you like to see Phillips do an origin story of? Let us know in the comments below!

Director Todd Phillips’ original, standalone origin story Joker explores the world of—and according to—Arthur Fleck. Indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, Arthur is a man facing the cruelty and outright scorn of society, along with the indifference of a system that allows him to spiral from vulnerability into depravity. A clown-for-hire by day, he strives to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds that the joke always seems to be on him. He’s out of tune with everyone around him, as evidenced by his uncontrollable, inappropriate laughter, which gains momentum as he attempts to contain it, exposing him to further ridicule—and even violence.

Arthur, who devotes himself to caring for his fragile mother, seeks out every father figure he’s never had, from wealthy businessman Thomas Wayne to TV host Murray Franklin. Caught in a cyclical existence teetering on the precipice of reality and madness, one bad decision brings about a chain reaction of escalating, ultimately deadly, events.

Buy The Joker: A Celebration Of 75 Years here and catch up on the Clown Prince of Crime.

Joaquin Phoenix stars as the titular villain with Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Bill Camp (Red Sparrow, Molly’s Game), Frances Conroy (American Horror Story), Brett Cullen (Narcos), Glenn Fleshler (Barry), Douglas Hodge (Penny Dreadful), Marc Maron (GLOW), Josh Pais (Motherless Brooklyn), and Shea Whigham (First Man).

Todd Phillips (The Hangover trilogy) directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with writer Scott Silver (The Fighter), based on characters from DC. The film is being produced by Phillips and MCU mainstay Bradley Cooper under their Joint Effort banner, and Emma Tillinger Koskoff. It is executive produced by Richard Baratta, Joseph Garner, and Bruce Berman.

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