Gotham is currently taking a break for mid-season 3, but the FOX network Batman prequel hasn't stopped teasing a big return that the show has scheduled for its winter 2017 premiere. Gotham fans have been wondering when The Joker/Jerome would emerge and it looks like the wait may finally be over.
It's no secret to Gotham viewers that Jerome is set to either evolve into Gotham's version of The Joker or inspire someone else to become the villain, but after his shocking death in the season 2 episode "Rise of the Villains: The Last Laugh" the future of Jerome was left uncertain. The character is about to make his triumphant return to the show next month and a new pic gives an important clue as to how.
A new photo featuring a dead (?) Jerome has been posted to Instagram by the actor who portrays the character on Gotham, Cameron Monaghan. The image (seen below) features Leslie Thompkins (Morena Baccarin) uncovering Jerome's deformed body for what appears to be an autopsy. This would make sense, as Leslie is the medical examiner for the Gotham City Police Department in the TV show.
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#GOTHAM A photo posted by Cameron Monaghan (@cameronmonaghan) on
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Gotham is known for presenting its own unique take on Batman's rogues gallery, often ignoring the long established timelines and continuity in the comic books. The faceless Joker may only be familiar to those that have been keeping current with Batman comics over the past few years. The more recent development in the character came in various forms, in particular when a new villain called The Dollmaker cut the Joker's face off. The infamous grinning mug of the Clown Prince of Crime would make the rounds for awhile, encountering everyone from Harley Quinn to Duela Dent, before making its way back to the Joker's body. The face was then re-attached by hooks in a rather grisly manner.
The murderous psychopath Jerome Valeska met his fate in Gotham season 2 at the hands of Theo Galavan (James Frain), who stabbed him in the neck, leaving his corpse behind with a prophetic bloody smile on his face. The idea of a return was made possible when the series revealed that Jerome's corpse was being held at the Indian Hill research facility, below Arkham Asylum. Dr. Hugo Strange had been using Indian Hill for experiments that were bringing dead Gothamites back to life, more dangerous than before.
We still don't have the final confirmation that Jerome is in fact the Joker, but over the past month a number of teasers have been released online to build up to his return - including, a set of photos that tease the transformation of Jerome into the Joker and a photo that Cameron Monaghan posted of Jerome in a very Joker looking costume. It remains to be seen if Jerome will actually become THE Joker , or if his legacy will truly just be as an inspiration for villain still to come.
On that note - you can check out additional images from the Gotham 2017 winter premiere (titled, fittingly enough, 'Ghosts') in the galley below:
[vn_gallery name="Gotham Winter 2017 Premiere Photos" id="866699"]
Gotham season 3 continues with 'Ghosts' on January 16th, 2017 @8pm on FOX.
Source: Cameron Monaghan