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Leonardo DiCaprio Could Play Joker In Origin Movie

Warner Bros. is reportedly eyeing DiCaprio to become its Clown Prince of Crime.

94 Comments

Recently, we learned that a new Joker origin movie is in the works with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese involved as a producer. Now, a new report has more exciting and interesting news about the film in the area of potential casting.

Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Oscar winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio is being eyed to play the Joker. No offer has been made to DiCaprio, so this is not a done deal by any stretch; THR also reports that Scorsese's deal is not finalised.

It sounds like a longshot for DiCaprio to come aboard, but it's an exciting prospect to think about regardless. "The chances of landing DiCaprio could be slim to none. But the attempt in itself sends a signal to talent that Warners wants to hire serious filmmakers to make serious films," THR reported.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together on many big-name movies including The Departed, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Wolf of Wall Street. The new Joker movie is to be directed by The Hangover's Todd Phillips.

Jared Leto played the Joker in Suicide Squad and will reprise the role in its sequel, as well as a spinoff movie, but he won't play the role in the new origin film. Sources told THR that Leto made his unhappiness known to his CAA agents about the possibility of there being two Jokers.

The untitled Joker spinoff will be a "gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in the early '80s Gotham City." Interestingly, WB is reportedly setting up the film not as a DC movie but rather like one of Scorsese's '80s-set movies like Raging Bull or Taxi Driver.

Phillips is writing the script alongside 8 Mile's Scott Silver. No release date has been set, and overall it still sounds like very early days.

Would you like to see DiCaprio play the Joker? Let us know in the comments below!

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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madMARTYNmarsh

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A great actor no doubt and he has the right face shape to pull it off but I am reserved in my expectation of this as I wasn't keen on Ben Affleck playing Batman which turned out less horrible than I expected.

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pelvist

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I always though Leo would play a good Jack Nicholson type of Joker. Leo has been amazing in every part he has played. I might even watch it too, and I only ever liked the Batman films with Michael Keaton.

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straightcur

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If he does play the part, he will be a criminal losing his mind on his way to becoming the Joker. I doubt we ever see him as the Joker, except maybe right at the end of the movie.

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BLiTZ_156

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Might be just me here... but I'm getting a bit tired of the Batman universe.
Feel as if it's been so milked the last few years. Spin-offs, reboots, re-imagining characters. Zzzz

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@BLiTZ_156: it has been rinsed recently hasn't it. As long as this Joker isn't like that in Suicide Squad I won't mind too much, Jared Letos Joker is my least favourite of all the film Jokers.

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LouiXIII

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This is huge. If he plays the Joker, the box office sales are going to be through the roof. I'm sold

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ToadstoolPeach

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I could see DiCaprio as a younger Jack Nicholson Joker.

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lionheartssj1

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@ToadstoolPeach: He does have some Nicholson acting similarities, I think.

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@lionheartssj1: he also has a very similar range of facial movements, I think it was in The Beach that I first noticed the similarities between Nicholson and DiCaprio, especially in the eyes/eyebrows.

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Gersphere

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Edited By Gersphere

@ToadstoolPeach: Truth! But can't see him dancing like the original Joker. In the ballroom nor on top of the building.

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@Gersphere: Have you seen Romeo and Juliet? I can see him doing it if the role calls for it.

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santinegrete

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What about Leto?

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deactivated-5aa080b4ab96f

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@santinegrete: We've had enough of crackhead hipster joker.

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BDRTFM

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Edited By BDRTFM

Sorry, I just don't see it. Hopefully he will not go overboard with the costume like Leto did. That was just too way over the top. He's supposed to be diabolically, intelligently insane not, I want to drown puppies and worship Satan insane. Say what you want about Ledger's version, it was one of the best looks, simple yet effective. Now if we could have Ledger's look with Mark Hamill's laugh, that would be awesome. Somehow I don't see DiCaprio as a joker of that caliber. He's a fantastic actor, I just don't see him pulling off the diabolical, criminal mastermind, somewhat insane type of acting required. But, who knows? Maybe he'll surprise the hell out of us.

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@bdrtfm: Hvae you seen the Beach? The part where he is hiding in the marijuana fields, when he is almost going insane? That section makes me think that he could pull it off. This section is only fresh in my head because my wife hadn't seen the film so we watched it recently after I made her read the book.

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adamus

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just no more Jeto Joker please.

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Jago-Vs-Fulgore

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@adamus: You ain't never lied. With that lame az Jim Carey Riddler laugh.. HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

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ReklawM

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Edited By ReklawM

I do really like Di Caprio but not for this role that seems to play in early Gotham, so the cast has to be younger then Caprio could perform.

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Ayato_Kamina_1

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Di Caprio would give you 100%, and the guy's commitment and talent let you know he would put in one helluva performance.

Leto's joker wasn't impressive at all.

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@Ayato_Kamina_1: I was very disappointed with the decisions that lead to Letos Joker, those decisions aren't his fault (at least his look) but the way he played Joker was his decision and I hated it. He missed the mark completely in my opinion, Joker is a criminal mastermind not a gang leader in makeup.

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Reuwsaat

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I love DiCaprio but I'd never imagine him playing that role, it doesn't fit the style of his trajectory as an actor. Also, Todd Philips is involved in almost every movie I despise, why can't they just call Nolan up and make a decent movie once again?

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@Reuwsaat: I had to look up what films he was involved in and I was shocked to find some films that I really enjoyed. Boat, Road trip and the Hangover series are all films that he is involved with and I really enjoyed them. War dogs wasn't too bad either.

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Reuwsaat

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@madMARTYNmarsh: We're completely opposite in film taste lmao

Those you mentioned are precisely the ones I was refering to.

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commander

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Edited By commander

Di caprio would be good for almost every role. The man is a genius when it comes to acting. Movies like the aviator, django unchained, shutter island, the wolf of wall street and the revenant are proof of that. Heck pretty much any role he played is proof of that.

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@commander: he is one of those chameleon actors that can slip into almost any role. I'm far more interested in his Joker than I ever was for Letos. He could even top Ledgers Joker!

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BDRTFM

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Edited By BDRTFM

@commander:The Revenant was fantastic. Shutter Island was a bit of a let down but, his acting was spot on. I knew he was going places when he played Arnie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. But the Joker? IDK man.

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madMARTYNmarsh

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@bdrtfm: I genuinely think he can do a good job based on his maniacal episode in The Beach.

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chipmunkkungfu

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Why not replace the 1st one rather than hire another one

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LTJohnnyRico

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Think DiCaprio has been pretty great in just about every movie hes been in .. and can imagine he'd be great as the Joker !

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Derek

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Edited By Derek

@Abomination713: I'm still holding out hope that they'll use Dafoe as The Joker if/when they eventually do a Dark Knight Returns film.

Hell, they could even possibly do it in the Nolanverse... not saying that they should tho lol

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BDRTFM

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Edited By BDRTFM

@Abomination713:Yeah Dafoe always puts on a good show with makeup and his voice acting. I just watched a little known movie called Death Note. They don't show much of him but it shows how well he does with a getup and that voice and chuckle of his.

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streetmagik

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@bdrtfm: I don't know if this is sarcasm or not? Death Note definitely isn't little know, it's a brand new Netflix project, based on a very popular anime, based on a very popular manga that was given tons of coverage. Also, Dafoe wasn't in a suit--it's two people controlling a nine foot tall costume. I think they used some of his facial captures from the voice over work in the facial CG.

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BDRTFM

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Edited By BDRTFM

@streetmagik: Thanks Captain Obvious. It wasn't sarcasm but, it does look like it did a fly by. I wasn't talking about the original anime being little known, I was talking about the actual Netflix movie. Not many have watched it or know about it yet. And I'm well aware of how CGI works. Dafoe is well known for his excellent voice acting and mocap for freaky looking getups like the one in Death Note. Nowhere do I say he was in a suit to play Ryuk.

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streetmagik

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@bdrtfm: it's all good man, I wasn't trying to be mean or rude. I was speaking about the Netflix made film as well--it has received tons of coverage, on this site, as well as, many others. I also did not question your knowledge of CG, I merely mentioned that is how the face was animated for the film. I'm sorry if I offended you, but the way the comment was written ("it shows how well he does with a getup"), would lead most to assume you were saying he was in a suit. Nothing personal.

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BDRTFM

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Edited By BDRTFM

@streetmagik: No problem and no offense. I tend to type fast and hit Post so it's not the first time I didn't explain myself very well. I was just saying that it's not well known at the time I saw it because I own a tech shop that also sells collectibles - anime figures, comics etc. and everyone I mentioned it to hadn't seen it. Which I thought was weird considering the people I talked to are really into that and it being front and center on Netflix. I actually assumed that Ryuk was done using a mix of CGI and models for the darker, longer shots, not with an actual 9 foot model with only mocap for facial expressions. I find that can look more realistic than some of the best CGI. Just look at the Alien series and compare the guy in a costume to the CGI with the various Alien scenes throughout the movies. The CGI looks terrible in some scenes compared to the model. Especially Alien 3. Some scenes of the xenomorph were terrible looking.

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streetmagik

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@bdrtfm: All good dude. I agree that when directors use props, the scenes look more believable. CG artists are doing amazing work these days, but I think that's the problem. Especially with humanoid characters, were used to seeing and understanding how movements should look, then we see some perfectly animated, but exaggerated sequence, and this makes it look obviously fake. It's getting better though. I just watched Guardians of the Galaxy 2. There is a scene early on with Kurt Russell in his twenties. It's pretty amazing how convincing his CGI face is. Anyway, good luck with your shop, sounds like a cool place.

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nparks

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"Leto made his unhappiness known to his CAA agents about the possibility of there being two Jokers."

Well, Jared, that's completely understandable and we really sympathize with your perspective here and absolutely want to rectify this situation. You're fired.

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wicked_laugh

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Please Please PLEASE get an untrained old black female 'little person' to play Joker! Good god it's going to be hilarious reading folks lose their ish over it.

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G4m1ngOn

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Edited By G4m1ngOn

Leto's play was HORRIBLE, laughable.. whole theater loled during his scenes. I still smile when thinking about it :)

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Archangel3371

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Leonardo DiCaprio is such a great actor so I would love to see what kind of Joker he would portray.

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Dev-RAiD1

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seeing leo as the joker will do the same for me as val kilmer or clooney as batman.......make me skip the movie until i can watch it as a joke later on

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