The unsettling trailer drops serious hints about how Batman’s nemesis came to be.
Now here’s some film news that’s all set to put a smile on your face, whether you like it or not. Last night, the first full-length trailer for Joker arrived, providing a long-awaited origin story for the Clown Prince of Crime. Joaquin Phoenix steps into the shoes of Arthur Fleck, a failing stand-up comedian who’s inching towards the new career of criminal mastermind – and here’s your first look:
We’ve come a long way from the campy crusades of Jack Nicholson’s Joker, that’s for sure. Set to a suddenly haunting rendition of ‘Smile’, the trailer sees Arthur being attacked by youths, visiting Arkham Asylum, and writing a series of increasing dark jokes. Transforming from your friendly street clown to something altogether more twisted, the 80s-set film looks set to touch on themes of mental illness, Fleck’s relationship with his mother, and the damage society can do to fragile individuals.