Joaquin Phoenix could have played the Joker way before he debuted as the iconic villain in the eponymous 2019 film. The actor has revealed he was in the talks to play the legendary character in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 blockbuster, The Dark Knight.
However, things did not materialize at the time and the role ultimately went to Heath Ledger, who passed away a few months before the film’s release but immortalized the character with his stellar performance.
A decade later, it was announced that Phoenix would take Ledger’s legacy forward by playing the villain in Todd Phillips’ Joker.
While fans were initially apprehensive about seeing a new face as the Joker, Phoenix brought a different shade to the character. He has now disclosed how Nolan had approached him to play the antagonist opposite Christian Bale’s Batman in The Dark Knight.
Joaquin Phoenix could have played the Joker in The Dark Knight
During an interview on the Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin podcast, Joaquin Phoenix stated he had a talk with Christopher Nolan about playing the Joker in The Dark Knight. However, the actor was not ready to take up the role at the time. He said:
“I remember I talked to Chris Nolan about ‘The Dark Knight’ and that didn’t happen for whatever reason, I wasn’t ready then. That’s one of those things where it’s like, ‘What is in me that’s not doing this?’ And it’s not about me. There’s something else.”
Phoenix added that even he can not imagine the role being played by anyone but Heath Ledger:
“There’s another person who is going to do something. I can’t imagine what it would be if we didn’t have Heath Ledger’s performance in that film, right?”
The actor further revealed that he was not finalized for the role, but did have a meeting with Nolan:
“I don’t know whether Christopher Nolan was coming to me saying, ‘You’re definitely the person.’ I can’t remember the context of how we met, but I know we met. My feeling was I shouldn’t do this, but maybe he also was like, ‘He’s not the guy.’”
Both Joaquin Phoenix and Heath Ledger won Oscars for their respective performances as the Joker
Heath Ledger was eventually finalized for The Dark Knight and left the audience and critics mesmerized with his act. His portrayal of the Joker is counted among the best antagonistic performances in history. The actor sadly passed away in January 2008, seven months before the film’s release.
For his memorable performance, Ledger was posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Joaquin Phoenix finally got the opportunity to play the deadly clown in 2019 with Joker.
His performance as Arthur Fleck, a struggling comedian who goes on a violent path, received critical acclaim along with fans' love.
The movie earned over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film at the time. Phoenix won the Oscar for Best Actor at the 92nd Academy Awards. Ledger and Phoenix are the only actors to win the prestigious trophy for their performances in a superhero film.
In 2020, Phoenix earned the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and paid tribute to Ledger in his acceptance speech, calling him his favorite actor.
Phoenix then reprised his role as Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux. The 2024 sequel, directed by Todd Phillips, continued the story of Arthur Fleck, with the addition of Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga.
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However, the movie failed to live up to expectations and bombed at the box office. Though Phoenix’s performance was still appreciated, fans criticized the film's musical narrative and storyline. Made on a budget of around $200 million, the movie has grossed about $58 million domestically so far.
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