As a gamer with a keen eye for cinema, I must say that Joaquin Phoenix’s journey to portraying Joker is nothing short of fascinating. It’s like a cinematic game of chess, where pieces are moved not by some grand master, but by fate itself.
Joaquin Phoenix bagged an Oscar for his role as Joker in Todd Phillips’ 2019 movie. However, more than a decade prior to its release, he admitted that he had been offered the chance to play Batman’s arch-nemesis, the Joker, in Christopher Nolan‘s renowned The Dark Knight.
Phoenix recently had an extended chat with Rick Rubin on his “Tetragrammaton” podcast (detailed below). During this discussion, which lasted over two hours, the actor shared that he previously conversed with Nolan about assuming the role of The Joker long before he eventually portrayed the character.
Phoenix explained on the podcast that what he had mentioned wouldn’t have occurred due to several factors. At that time, he wasn’t prepared. Sometimes, you wonder why a project isn’t happening for you or what’s preventing it. The truth is, it’s not about me; there’s someone else involved. Someone else would have taken on the role that Heath Ledger played in that movie – I can hardly imagine how different it would have been without his performance.
He added, “I’m unsure if Christopher Nolan explicitly told me, ‘You are definitely the right person.’ My memory of our initial encounter is hazy. However, I do recall that we did meet, and my instinct was to decline. But it’s also possible that he might have felt the same way, ‘You’re not the fit.’ I couldn’t express my thoughts at the time.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on the extraordinary impact Heath Ledger had on the world of cinema. His portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight” is now legendary, earning him a posthumous Oscar—a feat unmatched by an actor 30 years prior to his untimely death from prescription medication overdose in January 2008. His roles in “The Dark Knight” and “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” sadly, were his last on-screen performances.
That particular year, Phoenix chose to stay out of the limelight, dedicating his time to creating the mockumentary titled “I’m Still Here“, which hit the screens in 2010.
Approximately ten years after her initial encounter, the actress was once more asked to portray a challenging adversary for Batman in director Phillips’ film “The Joker.
In Phoenix’s own words, “That film seemed massive to me. It felt equivalent to around 55 million dollars, which may not have been much for Todd, but it was a significant production in my eyes. Moreover, it belonged to an established franchise (IP), and I hadn’t had that kind of experience before.
I found it intriguing that despite the absence of a contractual obligation for a Joker sequel (though one later emerged as Folie à Deux) and the studio seemingly having limited faith in the film, these factors actually made me feel more at ease about accepting the role. Yet, I must admit, there was still a tinge of apprehension.
Phillips had a well-structured plan that offered opportunities for experimentation, and the Gladiator star expressed his enthusiasm for this approach. He admitted, ‘I’ve always longed to test new ideas, but rarely have the means, and it’s challenging to decline such chances.’ Yet, he remained uncertain and wrestled with this decision for extended periods.
Phoenix continued his acting career by taking on the role of the DC villain, which later earned him an Oscar. Interestingly, “Joker” turned out to be a box office success for Warner Bros., leading to the current musical sequel featuring Lady Gaga. This latest installment debuted in cinemas this month, but unfortunately, it didn’t achieve the same level of success as its predecessor did initially.
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2024-10-29 19:54