Joaquin Phoenix is Playing the Joker for Some Reason

Despite the fact that there is already a Joker movie starring Jared Leto in development, there's now another movie about the Batman villain in the works. Joaquin Phoenix has closed a deal to play the notorious DC baddie in a film that exists separately from the current canon of DC adaptations, meaning it's not at all tied to Suicide Squad.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the film will start shooting in New York this September. Director Todd Phillips also co-wrote the script, and the film will reportedly be an "exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale," according to the studio.

"The project's budget is in the $55 million range, significantly lower than the tentpoles that dominate the form," said the Reporter. "And the stand-alone is meant to be darker and more experimental in tone and content (at least as experimental as a studio can be with established brands such as DC), which is described as being akin to a crime drama."

There's no other news, but with San Diego Comic Con coming up next weekend, Warner Bros. is sure to let a few details slip.