Todd Phillips’ Joker movie “doesn’t follow anything from the comic books”

In The Killing Joke, the Joker says “If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!” That’s certainly held true over the years, as in Burton’s Batman, before falling into a vat of acid, he was a gangster who’d killed Thomas and Martha Wayne. In Gotham, they went with a take that’s just too unique to spoil; while in Killing Joke, he’s a struggling comedian, trying his best to get a laugh and support his wife.

According to director Todd Phillips, they’re going with a brand new take in the upcoming Joker film. “We didn’t follow anything from the comic books, which people are going to be mad about. We just wrote our own version of where a guy like Joker might come from. That’s what was interesting to me. We’re not even doing Joker, but the story of becoming Joker. It’s about this man.”

On getting Phoenix for the Joker, Phillips said, “We constantly thought, ‘God, imagine if Joaquin actually does this.”

For more from Phillips, Phoenix and co, be sure to check out this Thursday’s Empire magazine.

Joker hits theaters October 4th, 2019.