Why Todd Phillips Thought 'Joker' Would Never Get Released

Todd Phillips, director of the blockbuster movie “Joker,” has revealed that he was really nervous about the movie revolving around the clown prince of Gotham because of all the controversies that surrounded the film and believed that Warner Bros. would even think of canceling the whole project.

While speaking in a recent podcast with author Michael Moore, the 48-year-old filmmaker was not sure if Warner Bros. and its management would even release the film after all the controversy regarding the violence shown in the movie were doing rounds.

Talking about the situation at that time, the “Hangover” helmer noted that the time a narrative started on the movie, he thought that the studio might not even release the movie. He further added that there was a time when he started to think that Warner Bros. would feel that the movie is “not” worth all the things that have been going in recent times.

“I started thinking ‘Jesus, is this going to be one of those where Warners – because it is owned by AT&T and WarnerMedia it is a much bigger thing than ‘Joker’ will ever be – do they just go ‘This is not worth the headache?’ There was a minute there,” Phillips said.

Prior to its release, a certain section of the society slammed Phillips and actor Joaquin Phoenix for justifying and encourage violence. Both the artists denied all the allegations and insisted that all are these allegations on the movie are false.

Even after all the controversies, “Joker” turned out to be 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.

In related news, Martin Scorsese recently disclosed why he stepped back from being a part of the movie “Joker.”

In a discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, the 77-year-old filmmaker cited personal reasons for exiting the blockbuster movie. But later in the interview, he accepted that the criticisms he faced while making films like “King Of Comedy,” “Taxi Driver” and “Last Temptation Of Christ” made him take his extreme decision.

“We went and did ‘King Of Comedy’ and we were attacked for that and the film was considered the flop of the year at Entertainment Tonight. [But by then] the whole of Bollywood had turned against that kind of filmmaking,” Scorsese said.