Reboots, revivals, and reimaginings have been commonplace amongst DC Comics’ silver screen offerings over the past decade. From the heroic deeds of Christian Bale’s Dark Knight to the thrilling introduction of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, audiences have witnessed a who’s who of pop culture’s most celebrated heroes take flight and face their greatest foes. Yet where would we be without the odd descent into villainy? Where would we be without the Joker? 

Director Todd Phillips is best known for his dabblings in comedy, garnering box office success with the Hangover franchise and Starsky & Hutch. But the filmmaker will have to wholeheartedly embrace tragedy to successfully bring the Joker’s traumatic origin story to life for expectant filmgoers. 

Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2) are among the talented cast joining Phoenix for the twisted tale of Arthur Fleck’s undoing on the streets of Gotham and his subsequent transformation into the infamous villain. 

Decidedly dark, deeply unnerving, and undeniably intriguing, this new take on the Joker asks audiences to put on a happy face, but when the curtain drops on this hotly-anticipated and Oscar-tipped offering, Arthur’s psychotic deeds may turn those smiles upside down.

Face Off: The Many Guises Of The Joker

Joaquin Phoenix is the latest in a long line of actors to suit up in purple and green. 

Cesar Romero

Starring as the Joker in the classic 1960’s Batman TV show, Romero offered a first flamboyant glimpse of the villain for viewers worldwide. 

Jack Nicholson

Nicholson’s dazzling embodiment of the Joker gifted Tim Burton’s late 80’s/early 90’s Batman pictures with a chaotic sense of menace. 

Heath Ledger 

Often cited as the greatest onscreen portrayal of the Joker, Ledger’s anarchic tour de force was shrouded in tragedy and greeted with Oscar-winning acclaim following the actor’s passing. 

Jared Leto

Leto embraced the thuggish, gangster-esque brutality of the Joker found in more recent graphic novel outings. Unfortunately, his Suicide Squad cameo lacked the bite of previous incarnations – even with those shiny silver grillz.