This was announced a few months ago by DC Collectibles, but they had not released a picture of the statues, and I had withheld the report until some images were available. FINALLY, they release the first pictures and please note that they are also releasing a Deadshot and a Killer Croc statue as well and I’m sure more statues of the cast will follow. With no more delay, these are the first look at the Joker and Harley Quinn statues:
Been a while since I’ve posted anything on this site, but I think this is important…
There is a Joker fan film out there called JOKER RISING made by Smoking Alien Productions that though a low budget production it is very well done and they want to do a sequel to that film (Actually 2 films: A CITY WITH TWO FACES PART 1 and PART 2) and need the help of dedicated Joker Fans to raise enough money to make it possible. Here is a preview for you to enjoy…AND PASS THE WORD!!
TO HELP PLEASE GO TO KICKSTARTER HERE AND DONATE…
Empire Magazine is releasing this month’s magazine with covers depicting the cast of the upcoming SUICIDE CAST and include images of Jared Leto’s Joker, Harley Quinn, Dead Shot, and Enchantress… Click on the thumbnails for more covers.
OK, I will admit I am not happy about the demise of the character of Jerome Valeska from the series GOTHAM, but in a sense I can see one reason why we could not have had him turn onto the Joker (much to my regret). This is what I was thinking…
That said….
Certainly anarchy is a very powerful and liberating concept. Joker took it and amplified it in Nolan’s DARK KNIGHT, and in a sense drives the concept of the character even in the comics but not everybody can be the Joker…only the Joker can be the Joker.
It is true that the idea of chaos and mayhem are just concepts, that anybody could embrace to become the ultimate maniac…but Jerome did it so well that is tremendously sad to see such a good actor like Cameron Monaghan that had given so much to the character only to go in such a quick, senseless way. I would have preferred to see Jerome do one of those Joker escapes, where everybody thinks he’s dead only to return later with a vengeance…that in my opinion would have been more deserving of the performance.
The people at FOX have set the standards for their most famous homicidal maniac way up in the sky in my opinion. The new and final Joker, whenever he arrives will have to take Jerome’s ‘insanity virus’ and take it to the extreme. Is that even possible?
Yes, the Joker is definitely above any definition of insanity and goes to any limits he has to go to get his point across, but GOTHAM is a show based in reality. With the limitation of the media to root the characters in a ‘real environment’ how far can they take the Joker? Will they really find someone like Jerome out there?
I found the idea of people just going crazy killing people for fun, after seeing Jerome’s footage on the news a little farfetched. It is not normal human behavior. Just because you see someone killing on TV does not mean you’ll think it is fun and go out to try it yourself, but then , Gotham is a strange city. Maybe there is an underlying low degree of madness in its citizens and they need an inspiration to take it to the highest levels of depravity.
I don’t know…maybe it is just me being a Jokerholic here and adoring Cameron’s performance in the series, but I am divided into deciding if KILLING Jerome was really the best outcome for the character…hope that FOX did not make a mistake here and let go an awesome character that could fill the future clown’s shoes.
For now…Thanks Cameron for an unforgettable performance. Jerome will be missed, but you showed your caliber as an actor. Best wishes in the future…
Please read what Cameron Monaghan has to say about his character on the show on TVLine HERE
Found this while surfing the net and stopping at SLASHFILM.COM. They are reproducing a REDDIT report that offers a compelling theory that the Joker’s anarchist style was really a means to free the city from the corrupt elements present in both the police department and the underworld.
Can it be true?
I personally doubt it but the author offer some compelling arguments in favor of his theory. Here is a reproduction of the article…
The new theory lays out some pretty compelling evidence for how the seemingly anarchistic plans of The Joker are actually all part of a plan to clean up the corruption of Gotham City, from the police department to its latest vigilante. Learn more about The Dark Knight Joker theory below!
The theory comes from Reddit (via Uproxx) and introduces the theory pretty simply:
[0riginal article]
Author: generalzee
I briefly checked the history by doing a few searches and didn’t see anything quite like this, but I apologize if someone else has come up with a similar theory before.
Joker, although a lying psychopath, is actually the hero in The Dark Knight. Before the Joker, Gotham was a mess. Entire sections of the city were closed off due to madness, organized crime ran rampant, and the majority of important city officials were wildly corrupt. The city even tolerated a renegade vigilante who ran around wearing a rubber suit (Okay, special armor and carbon fiber, but they don’t know that).
Along comes the Joker and by the end of a very short time, almost all organized crime was eliminated, many corrupt officials were imprisoned or dead, and the city’s Vigilante even went into hiding for 8 years. This was all part of Joker’s masterfully executed plan.
Everyone must realize that Joker, despite his claim otherwise, really was “The Man With The Plan” throughout the entire film. The very first thing we see Joker do is rob a mafia controlled bank, eliminating the entire team of expert bank robbers who helped him pull it off. Of course, the robbery wasn’t about the money, it was about luring Lau out of hiding, preferably with all the major crime families’ collective money.
This works beautifully, and as Joker predicts, Batman goes to Hong Kong to “Extradite” Lau. Now Lau is in a safe place which Joker can, amazingly, access with ease. This of course is all just the plot of the film, but Joker is playing it amazingly, murdering key criminals and corrupt officials that could help insulate those at the top. Dent actually argues FOR insulating the men on the top in the interest of cleaning the streets of lower-level goons, but Joker knows that won’t work in the long-term.
At this point we honestly just have 3 men battling for Gotham’s “soul” (as Joker puts it), but Dent and Wayne are simply playing into Joker’s greater plan. This even extends to Joker’s threats to destroy a hospital. With Batman and Gordon’s help, Joker helps them root out corrupt police officials. Dent even kills some of those officials later in the film.
Gordon’s promotion, too, did a major service to Gotham. I think a lot of people take the Joker’s clapping during Gordon’s promotion scene to be sarcastic, but I actually think that Joker believed in Gordon, one of the few officers on the force who was truly incorruptible.
So now Joker has a pretty clear path to getting rid of the Organized Crime problem and the corrupt officials problem, but the Vigilante problem remains. As we saw at the beginning of the film, Batman was inspiring other vigilantes, and a society cannot stand when each man takes his own justice. This symbol of fear and unbridled vengeance, as Joker sees it, needs to be stopped, but not Killed. If he were killed, he would just be a martyr, and his symbol would live on. Of course, since Dent was a far better symbol for the city, he would make a far better martyr.
I don’t know if Joker actually intended for Harvey to be so physically scarred by the explosion from which Batman saved him, but I am certain that he wanted Harvey to feel the full pain of Rachel’s death, which is why he purposely tells Batman to go to the wrong address. He knows what Rachel’s death would do to Harvey psychologically, and that Batman would eventually have no choice but to kill Harvey. This breaks Batman psychologically, and also makes him a villain, a true villain, the kind that abandons his own principles. Batman now has no choice but to disappear, leaving his memory to fade into something of urban legend by the time of TDKR.
When we pick up in the next film we see a defeated Bruce Wayne who had retired 8 years prior. The city was safe and peaceful (until Bane shows up), and doesn’t need constant vigilante justice to keep it safe. Joker shows Batman the error of his ways, but does so in a totally devastating way.
Even the display with the two boats at the film’s climax only served to prove to the people of Gotham that they wouldn’t turn on each other. He proved that there was good even in the most supposedly despicable of Gotham’s inmates.
In the end Gotham is actually clean. It wasn’t because of Harvey, who died too soon to do any good, except as a martyr, and it wasn’t because of Batman who was ostracized and treated like the criminal such a vigilante truly is for 8 years. Gotham was safe because the Joker had cleaned up the streets. He eliminated the corrupt police, he destroyed organized crime financially, he uplifted Gotham’s spirit, and he even got rid of the flying pest that had been corrupting Gotham ever since he declared himself it’s protector.
…[In] short, the theory proposes that getting Batman out of Gotham City at the end of The Dark Knight was part of The Joker’s plan, in addition to removing corruption from the Gotham City Police Department. He even has a theory on how the seemingly sarcastic applause that he gives Commissioner Gordon after being apprehended is genuine praise for being one of the few incorruptible people on the police force.
One might think that his plan with the two boats in the third act goes against the idea of cleaning up Gotham City, since he wants citizens to kill each other, but the theory also nixes that by saying The Joker wanted to prove that Gotham’s citizens would never truly turn on each other, even in the most dire circumstances. Though his reaction might indicate otherwise.
This is a pretty wild theory, but at the same time, it’s the kind of plan that is crazy enough for someone like The Joker to execute, were it not for his comic book history that paints him as a true, unhinged psychopath. And Heath Ledger‘s performance, combined with how the script built the villain, actually adds some credence to the theory, as we never really know the character’s true motivations.
So here it is…any opinions on the subject?
(Original post by generalzee on REDDIT HERE, then posted with comments by Ethan Anderton on SLASHFILM.COM HERE)
Don’t know how playable it is (since some claim it is nonplayable skin), but I think the look is sick….
While checking the internet, saw that COMIC BOOK RESOURCES announced that DC has signed a new voice for their collaboration with LEGO for a BATMAN MOVIE to be released in February, 2017. Joker’s new voice for the movie will be done by (Hangover) Zach Galifianakis.
And it took me by surprise. WHY?
Well, it is obvious for those of you (me included) who had played the LEGO BATMAN games that the Joker was voiced by Clown Prince veteran Christopher Corey Smith. His voice acting, to my taste, was excellent, being both funny and intense (by this I mean that it sounded as if he “felt” the character and enjoyed it). After successfully voicing the Clown in two video games and a DVD movie I really believed that Cory Smith had become synonymous with the LEGO Joker (much like Mark Hamill became synonymous with the BATS Joker). Or was he really?
On behalf of Mr. Galifianakis I have to say, he is a voice actor on his own right with an extensive resume, especially having voiced The Simpsons’ Lucas Bortner and Puss in Boots’ Humpty Alexander Dumpty , but does he have what it takes to voice Joker? * scratches head* True, this is just a LEGO movie, not the Killing Joke or anything, no biggie…right? Well, yes…but there are voice pairings out there that just do not work (I’m still trying to reconcile Brent Spiner’s voicing Joker in Young Justice which made my head spin, though it was probably most likely due of the poor dialogue that was written for the character to begin with).
I will stop now.
Truth is I have no frame or reference to throw an opinion on the subject. Just wanted to express how I felt about Corey Smith not being a part of this new LEGO Batman movie, but I hate to pass judgement before hearing Galifianakis’ Joker, so… I will just sit back and wait for the first glimpses of his voice acting that will surely start appearing sometime next year. Hopefully it will be a refreshing change….*crosses fingers*
(Original article and unedited picture on COMIC BOOK RESOURCES HERE)
Yes, it was a nice day in 2004 when I saw the announcement in my PREVIEWS catalog of a new Jim Lee/ Lee Bermejo/ Camuncoli project involving Joker…and then it got cancelled.
I had attended comic book conventions (SDCC and NYCC as well as Orlando MEGACON) and try to inquire about the project…nobody knew what I was talking about or those that knew said it was in indefinite hiatus…so I waited. And waited. And waited.
And today I was ecstatic when I read on COMIC BOOK RESOURCES that FINALLY the series is going to see print. YES! The First issue of the series is scheduled to be released on NOVEMBER 2015 and will include (as of today) alternate covers by Jim Lee (1:100 sketch Cover), and Lee Bermejo. The original layouts of the series are done by Giuseppe Camumcoli and top comic book artists will work in each of the 4 issues of the miniseries. The first issue is made by JIM LEE! Here is the premise:
The impossible has happened and Batman is on the verge of being taken down by an enemy he cannot defeat: a virus for which there is no cure! And the only hope for his salvation is The Joker! Who infected Batman, what does the Clown Prince of Crime know, and how will the Dark Knight get that information? Together, the enemies crisscross Europe, desperate to find answers before time runs out.
And here are the covers:
(Original art from DC Comics. Original report by COMIC BOOK RESOURCES HERE)
Mark Hamill has his “fingers crossed” that a familiar name will appear on his Caller ID, asking the actor to take part in the upcoming animated adaptation of “The Killing Joke.”
Asked by a fan on Twitter whether he is involved in executive producer Bruce Timm’s interpretation of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s classic Batman/Joker tale, the actor was in no way ambiguous in his reply: No, he is not yet involved, but he’s aware of it and want very much to be a part of the production.
Hamill famously brought the villainous character to life in Timm and Paul Dini’s classic “Batman: The Animated Series.” Since then, the actor has returned to voice the character time and again, both as a part of the various “Timm-verse” series, and in other continuities, including video games, animated films and more.
Announced by Timm at Comic-Con International, the animated adaptation will be helmed by “Gods and Monsters” director Sam Liu, and released direct to video in 2016.
“Next year we’ll be back at this table,” Timm stated during a panel for “Gods and Monsters,” implying that the feature would likewise have a Comic-Con premiere.
DC Comics later confirmed the news, further adding that it will feature an all-new prologue, designed to add to the story.
(Original article by Stephen Gerding for CBR HERE)
I personally have stayed away of making final judgments on the Jared Leto’s performance and looks, just because the information available is kind of patchy and sparse. Still, I find this is an interesting little article that appeared in CINEMABLEND.COM comparing what we have seen from Jared Leto’s Joker with previous performances depicting the Clown Prince of Crime. The article, written by Mike Reyes covers all the Joker appearances since Cesar Romero and includes the animated version as well. Enjoy the report (my comments are added in green and in parentheses):
With the first trailer for Suicide Squad being leaked out of Comic Con, it’s hard not to get excited about David Ayer’s entry into the DC cinematic realm. One aspect in particular that had audiences pleasantly surprised is the first official appearance of Jared Leto’s incarnation of The Joker. One of the reasons we’re so pleased with what we’ve seen is the fact that David Ayer’s Joker is familiar to die hard fans, yet different enough that everyone has something new to look forward to. With that in mind, join us as we take a look at Jared Leto’s Joker as he compares to the Jokers of the past.
1. The Voice
If there was any one influence that could be singled out for Jared Leto’s vocal performance as The Joker, it would have to be Heath Ledger. While Cesar Romero and Mark Hamill took lighter pitched approaches to the clown prince of crime’s dialogue, Jack Nicholson started the trend of adding a more psychotic tinge to Joker’s one liners. While Nicholson still camped it up to a certain degree, he made the Joker a man to be reckoned with, and that’s something that even Hamill’s interpretation would build off of.
Of course, Ledger was the first to get truly disturbed with his voice, and Leto seems to follow a similar pattern of speech and cadence. The big difference in Jared Leto’s vocals though is that his laugh is more deliberate and drawn out. If anything, it almost sounds like a laugh being pushed through a sensation of physical pain, as opposed to the giddy or manic laughs his predecessors have displayed.
(Definitely agree that Leto is pulling inspiration from Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker voice, but I’m not so sure that he is as effective. Of course, it is very limited what we have heard the Joker say to draw a conclusion, but in my opinion, psychotic or not, Joker has always had a combination of wit, perverse and twisted sense of humor mingle with a sincere and terrifying sense of dread in his voice. He is the Clown in your nightmares after all. Unfortunately I think I will have to hear more of the dialogue to see if he is able to hit the Joker core.)
2. The Clothing
The Joker in Suicide Squad is more of a fashion plate than any other portrayal. With Cesar Romero, all the way through to Jack Nicholson and Mark Hamill, The Joker has been a man of more gawdy tastes. Think of a tuxedo by way of a circus sideshow, and you’ve got The Joker’s usual flare for the theatrical. Heath Ledger, on the other hand, had a slicker look once he robbed the mob of their money – opting for a three piece suit that still flashed with The Joker’s signature mindset, but bringing him closer to reality in the process.
Jared Leto’s costume, from the snips we’ve seen in set photos, is definitely more of an ensemble of modern glitz. With a shiny suit and a nice red shirt, this Joker isn’t standing on ceremony. The absence of a necktie only further accentuates this nightclub-ready Joker. Not to mention, his Joker is so jacked we’re going to see him shirtless in Suicide Squad, making Leto the first Beefcake Joker we’ve ever laid eyes on.
(I’ve said it before, this Joker definitely makes a fashion statement on the screen. Love the way Reyes calls his look as “night-club-ready Joker” it definitely suits the Clown well. From what we have seen, there is definitely a departure from the classic purple tux to a much more modern look. And with the Joker’s new set of wheels (a bright purple Lamborghini with gold trims), this Joker promises to be also extravagant on its tastes (come on, like nobody is going to recognize that car as the Joker’s ride…)
3. The Hair
Much like the costumes worn by the various Jokers in DC’s cinematic history, the hair is an integral piece that’s developed over the ages with the character. Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson really didn’t alter their hairstyles all that much for their incarnations of the role, except for the coloring. Both gentlemen had a light green that could stand out, but didn’t pop too much when set against anything other than the pale face of The Joker. Even Heath Ledger’s hair wasn’t particularly eye popping, but it was still noticeable as his incarnation for stringy, unwashed hair with an imperfect dye job.
Jared Leto’s Joker stands out like a neon sign that says, “Look at me!” Not only is his hair a bright, eye-catching green that you’d have seen on Nickelodeon in the 1990’s, but it’s also trimmed and extremely neat. Combined with the costuming choices they’ve made for his character, we can’t help but notice that Zack Snyder must have had some influence on the project, as this Joker reminds us of the one Frank Miller gave us in The Dark Knight Returns. In other words, the nice suit and the well-coiffed hair are mere distractions from the insanity that lies within.
(Interesting point Reyes makes here, about the nice suit and well coiffed hair as distractions of the insanity within, but in my humble opinion, the neon green color is just a tad too much for this character. Why not go with a toned down green like Cesar Romero or even copy the green color from the graphic novel that Snyder seems to be influenced by? I don’t know, it’s just…not attractive. In my opinion it is distracting and turns the Clown into a caricature, taking away part of his presence. Just like those gazillion of tattoos… it;s simply too much)
4. The Makeup
Of course, when we talk about The Joker, the one thing we can never forget to discuss is the makeup. It’s a factor so key to the character’s background that you can tell what type of maniac the filmmakers are going for when you take a closer look. Heath Ledger has, of course, become iconic in his own right for the Nolan trilogy’s usage of a Joker whose makeup is as sloppy as his emotional state. But the character had always been a sort of traditionalist through the Romero/Nicholson/Hamill era. The only real deviation was the face that was wearing it.
Yet here comes Jared Leto’s Joker, with a look that both stands out and blends in. It stands out because the shades he uses do stand out when lit correctly. His red lips in particular stand out among the tattoos and the eye makeup he employs in his appearance. The big difference though is the white foundation the character has been known to use. In Suicide Squad, it doesn’t look like he depends on it all that much, as the glimpses we get of him in the trailer make him look more naturally pale than any other Joker out there. He may have less makeup, but that just makes his natural pallor all the freakier to look at.
(I personally like the idea of the whole body pallor. It suits the Clown much better as it goes more in accordance with his origin. Romero and Nicholson’s makeup was definitely that of the circus clown, and Ledger’s was more of the “war paint” referred to in the Dark Knight prologue. Leto’s makeup is more atoned with reality of what could happen to your skin after an acid bath. What unfortunately for me takes away from the whole makeup is not necessarily the presence of the tattoos (which I’ve stated before thought was a great idea) but the fact that they were TOO MANY, poorly selected and some are even poorly placed. Maybe moderation was the key word here. The lipstick red lips I imagine are inspired in Dark Knight Returns, and suits this character, and one thing that is really freaky is the lack of eyebrows. Another thing that I think is just filler without real purpose is the presence of the metal grill in his mouth. Makes the Joker look more like the street pimp with no sense of fashion and just wants to show off. I don’t know. So far it really does not call me yet.)
I’ll simply wait for the release of the movie to make my mind.)
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