Everything We Know About The Joker Origin Movie

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

The Hangover
Warner Bros.

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.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.