Joaquin Phoenix Never Officially Said Yes To 'Joker'

Todd Phillips, director of the blockbuster movie “Joker,” has revealed that Joaquin Phoenix never officially said yes to portray the role of the clown prince of Gotham.

Speaking in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 48-year-old director shared that he was not sure if Phoenix would join the project because he never said yes to the role until the “Gladiator” star “magically” showed up for wardrobe selection.

Later in the discussion, the “Hangover” helmer noted that if anyone took two pages from the movie’s script and saw the movies, they would realize how an actor could enhance the flavor of a scene or a movie.

“If you took two pages of our script and you [hold it up] to our scene, you realize how an additive an actor can be,” Phillips said.

The acclaimed director further stated that he literally had to pursue him to get him on board because “Joker” looked like a comic-book movie and this is where things got tricky since Phoenix was not keen on pursuing a superhero film.

He also told the publication that he explained a lot of times that they are not making a typical comic-book movie but still, there was a “resistance” from Phoenix.

“Just the idea of it is something he wasn’t so keen on pursuing, and even when I would explain to him it is not that, it kind of says that, but really we are doing this thing, there was a little resistance,” Phillips said.

But one day, Phoenix just showed up for the “wardrobe” and that was the day Phillips got to know that he is officially participating in the movie.

“He never said yes. He just one day showed up to a wardrobe fitting. It was an incredible partnership,” Phillips said.

Last month, there were various reports that Phillips has met the officials at Warner Bros. and is reportedly working on a sequel to the movie. But all the reports came down tumbling when Phillips clarified that it is highly unlikely for people to see a sequel to “Joker.”

In a recent interview, the “Hangover” helmer admitted that he and Phoenix did talk about the sequel. The Warner Bros. executives have also been asking them to give it a thought, but they don’t even have a contract stating that they can “write” a script for the sequel and the “Village” star has not been approached for a second film as well.

The movie has been creating a lot of buzz in the awards season. After becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, the movie starring Phoenix in the titular role has been recognized as one of the top 10 movies of the year by the American Film Institute (AFI).

Meanwhile, “Joker” is nominated for seven Critics’ Choice Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director nod for Phillips. The “You Were Never Really Here” star has already been named Best Actor by New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) and San Diego Film Critics Society.

The movie is also nominated in four categories at the 2020 Golden Globes.