By Leaked footage from the set of Joaquin Phoenix's Joker film has given us a glimpse of the direction he's taking the character in. In short: he's got a nice suit, he's got a swagger, and he's taking his style all the way back to the first actor to play the Joker back in the 1960s.
The short clip, leaked by TMZ, is shot from a subway platform crowded with other people in clown masks. They're presumably part of his rapidly growing gang, one of whom is carrying a sign reading 'KILL THE RICH' while another waves a four-foot clown mask around in the background. Suddenly, terrified commuters start bursting off the train - one of them is set upon and tickled by goons - followed by a beaming Joker.
And that's about it. It's only a short clip, but it reveals a lot. Judging by the subway signs, this version of Gotham is extremely New York-ish - to the point where the Bedford Park Boulevard signs are still up, though they might be edited out later - and it looks like Phoenix's Joker is going to be a bit more flamboyant than Jared Leto's supremely irritating version. His wide-lapelled suit nods at the neon pink one worn by Cesar Romero as the classic Batman series' Joker too.
All things considered, then, there's nothing to make you doubt that seeing Joaquin Phoenix playing the Joker will be any less exciting than seeing Joaquin Phoenix playing the Joker sounds.
