John David Washington Shared A Wild Take On Joining The Batman Franchise, But I Honestly Love His Idea

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I must confess, as a connoisseur of all things Batman and a firm believer that every character deserves a fresh take, John David Washington‘s vision for The Joker has piqued my interest like no other. His unique spin on the Clown Prince of Crime, set in the gritty streets of Gotham’s South Side, offers a breath of fresh air in a world already brimming with iconic portrayals.

Over the past decade and a half, there’s been plenty of diverse portrayals of Batman’s arch-nemesis, The Joker, on the silver screen – four if we count the abbreviated but mostly excised scene from 2022’s “The Batman”. Heather Ledger’s version is now iconic, and Joaquin Phoenix brought home an Oscar for his depiction. With so many interpretations already out there, another one in a future DC film didn’t sound enticing. However, after hearing John David Washington discuss his fresh take on the character and potential role in the series, I must admit, it piques my interest. In fact, I find his concept quite intriguing.

In a recent Instagram clip from an interview with Josh Horowitz on his podcast, Happy Sad Confused, the Tenet star John David Washington shared his passion for The Caped Crusader. When asked by the host to choose between playing a hero or a villain, the actor’s response was intriguing:

If there were a Joker hailing from Compton or somewhere similar to it, the south side of Gotham, which is equivalent to Chicago, I’d delve deeper into that story.

In a world brimming with cinematic possibilities, such as multiple adaptations of the Joker and Batman gracing our screens at once, why not introduce a unique perspective by casting a Black actor from Gotham’s South Side in the role of the Joker? This fresh take would undoubtedly spark my interest in another rendition of this iconic character. If DC is aiming to reignite my enthusiasm for an upcoming superhero movie, this approach could certainly do the trick!

At present, information about “The Batman Part II” is scarce, but there’s a great deal of excitement among fans about Barry Keoghan potentially reprising his role as the Joker in the world crafted by Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson. Moreover, James Gunn, one of the Co-CEOs at DC Studios, is working on a fresh take on Batman. This forthcoming movie will likely introduce an older Bruce Wayne alongside his son Damian, who will assume the role of Robin. Known as “The Brave and The Bold“, this film opens up the possibility for another Joker appearance. If fan and actor interest is strong enough, it might even be Keanu Reeves reprising the role.

During the interview, I was quite charmed by the fact that the star of The BlacKkKlansman openly shared his affection for Batman, particularly those films directed by Tim Burton. He went on to say…

Tim Burton’s portrayal of Batman resonated deeply with me. Chris Nolan built upon that, but yes, Batman remains a favorite character of mine. As a kid, I had the toys and the Batmobile. There was something about it that appealed to me inexplicably, especially Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal. Her costume… simply captivating!

It’s tough to disagree with him on that point. Among all the fantastic portrayals of Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer stands out as my preferred big-screen version of the character. As the actor from Malcolm & Marie explains, her costume was spot-on and left a deep imprint on the memory of a young boy.

We’ll have to wait and see if John David Washington takes on the role of the character wearing a purple coat and face paint, as seen in the comics. There are numerous possibilities for how our beloved DC heroes can be portrayed, and this rendition is one that I eagerly look forward to. Here’s hoping for the best!

As we eagerly anticipate updates on DC’s upcoming movie lineup slated for 2025 and beyond, let’s take a trip down memory lane and rewatch some of the finest live-action and animated Batman films accessible via a Max subscription. Here’s my take on them as your friendly neighborhood movie reviewer.

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2024-12-23 21:37