Everything We Know About The Joker Origin Movie

7. Todd Phillips Is Directing And Co-Writing With Scott Silver

While Joaquin Phoenix's involvement in the project was widely regarded as a win by fans, the appointment of Todd Phillips as the director has been a point of contention. The filmmaker is perhaps best known for helming the Hangover trilogy and the reviled Starsky and Hutch remake, specialising in frat-boy comedies rather than gritty thrillers.

Consequently, WB getting him on board to take on this dark superhero film seems like a bit of strange choice, but if anything, that's only a testament to just how much of a risk the studio is willing to take on the project. Getting in an unconventional director like Philipps could be the breath of fresh air a project like this needs, and balancing dark humour with moments of horror doesn't seem entirely out of the filmmaker's talents.

He's writing the script as well, alongside Scott Silver (who only has a few credits, including 8 Mile and The Fighter, to his name), which, at the very least, should make for a pretty out-there screenplay.