Warner Bros' Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix is eying Deadpool 2 actress Zazie Beetz a role in the 2019 DC movie. While the studio is continuing on with what is known unofficially as the DC Extended Universe, Warner Bros. is also planning a series of DC Comics movies not set in that same cinematic universe. The first of these will be Joker, starring Phoenix as the titular Clown Prince of Crime, and The Hangover's Todd Phillips directing from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver. Recently, Warner Bros. officially announced the film and gave Joker a 2019 release date.
While little else about this upcoming Joker standalone film is known, now that it's officially in development and dated for Fall 2019, expect plenty more news to roll in. In fact, Warner Bros. may have something planned to build buzz for the movie at the studio's San Diego Comic-Con 2018 panel later this week. But for now, fans will have to make due with a little bit of casting news as an X-Men universe actress is reportedly in talks to join the Joker movie.
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THR reports Deadpool 2's Zazie Beetz is in talks to join Warner Bros' Joker. Though the exact details of her role are still being kept under wraps she would play a single mother who catches the eye of Phoenix's Joker. Joker is expected to start filming in September of this year in New York City, so the full cast of the film should solidify over the next few months - and Beetz will either close a deal with Warner Bros. or move on.
Prior to landing the role of Domino in Deadpool 2, Beetz drew attention for her performance in Donald Glover's FX TV series Atlanta, in which she plays his character's on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother of their daughter. Thanks to the attention gained by Glover's critically acclaimed show, Beetz has since transitioned to a number of high-profile movie roles, including portraying the mutant with luck abilities in Deadpool 2. Beetz is expected to reprise her role as Domino for X-Force and potential further X-Men universe films.
As for Beetz's role in Joker, her skills in providing compelling and dynamic performances will no doubt lend themselves well to Phillips' different kind of comic book movie. Joker is said to be more character driven than a typical comic adaptation, in the vein of Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Based in these descriptions, it likely resembles Logan more than Deadpool 2, but Beetz's experience in the superhero genre should no doubt come in handy as well for Joker.
Though many DC fans are already intrigued by what Phoenix can bring to a Joker solo movie, others are less enthused about seeing another big screen iteration of the Clown Prince of Crime (Jared Leto's Joker is reportedly getting a solo movie as well). However, with Beetz joining the project, we have a somewhat better idea of what Phillips and Warner Bros. are going for - and Joker may win over its detractors yet.
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Source: THR
