"Definitely not" is probably not a phrase of comfort for those hoping for a cinematic meeting of Joaquin Phoenix's Joker and Robert Pattinson's Batman, but here we are.
Joker director Todd Phillips was asked by Variety about the possibility of the two latest iterations of the beloved DC characters doing such a thing. According to him, fans should just hang it up.
"No, definitely not," he said, notably pointing out—though it probably didn't need emphasis—that such a statement doesn't mean this is the last we’ll see of the Joker character itself.
Comparing the world of comic books to Shakespeare, Phillips expressed his prediction that "many more Jokers" will hit the screen in the future.
The Phoenix-starring Joker is fresh off an Oscar-buzzing Golden Lion victory at the Venice Film Festival. Similarly high marks for the October release arrived with the film's landing at Toronto International Film Festival, where it will be screening throughout the week.
Phoenix is joined in the discourse-inspiring production by Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Marc Maron, and more. Phillips co-penned the script for the movie—which opens nationwide Oct. 4—with Scott Silver (8 Mile, The Fighter).
Pattinson's The Batman, meanwhile, is due in 2021. Production kicks off soon.
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