Todd Phillips Reveals Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' Inspiration, Movie Revolved Around World Without Empathy

Todd Phillips’ blockbuster hit “Joker” garnered a lot of praise for its theme. The critics, as well as the audiences, noted that Phillips created a world that’s similar to the world people are living in right now and that was one of the reasons why the film worked so well. Phillips has recently opened up about how he created the world of Gotham and what he wanted to show through his vision.

Speaking in an interview with Deadline, the 49-year-old filmmaker discussed many things regarding the movie and noted that he wanted to show a world without “empathy” in his movie because he feels that we are living in a world where people have forgotten to feel how the other person can feel by his or her actions.

Phillips further stated the whole film was built on a world without “empathy” and when someone enters a place where people do not give a “s—t” about each other, that’s where a villain like Arthur Fleck or Joker comes in.

“There is a loss of empathy in the world that we all feel nowadays. … Everything else was built on that. What if you grow up in a world without empathy? What if our Gotham was a cold, dark place full of people who don’t really give a sh-t about each other? That’s where this villain comes from,” Phillips said.

Joaquin Phoenix has been getting a lot of amazing reactions for his portrayal of the clown prince of Gotham. He won the Best Actor trophies at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and the SAG Awards. Phoenix, who is considered to be a method actor, drew inspiration from small things like streets that were filled with garbage and Arthur’s wardrobe. But the only thing he was nervous about was the iconic laugh.

“He [Phoenix] was nervous about the laugh . He always did it so well, every time,” Phillips said.

“Joker” became a massive success for Phillips and Warner Bros. The movie became the first-ever R-rated movie to cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office. The most impressive feat about the earnings that the movie has is that it has not been released in China.

The movie also became the most profitable comic-book movie of all time and made almost 15 times more than its production cost.

Currently, it is leading the pack with 11 nods at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, a directing nod for Phillips and Best Actor nom for Phoenix.