Sure, Todd Phillip's Joker movie might be all about Gotham's Clown Prince of Crime, but the director has long since been reminding fans that the film won't be a regular comic book entry. A character study on the most popular and iconic Batman villain, the Joker promises some serious gravitas, and Warner Brothers is planning to place Joker in a competition slot in this year's Venice Film Festival.
It might seem a bit arrogant of Warner Brothers to throw the Joker right into the middle of Venice Film Festival's competitive arena, but apparently, Phillips wanted to go all in.
Speaking in an interview with Variety, Venice Film Festival artistic chief Alberto Barbera revealed the director wanting to join the event without the fear of losing.
"Yes, as usual, they said they wanted to be in a more protected situation," Barbera told the publication, "But then [director] Todd Phillips said: "I don't care if I run the risk of not winning. Why shouldn't I go into competition when I know what we've I've got on our hands?"
Phillips seems to know what he's doing though because even Barbera is convinced that the film is going to succeed. The Venice Film Festival art director even believes that Joker is going to fly right to the Oscars.
"I have to say, Warners was convinced pretty rapidly, because it's a really surprising film," Barbera said. "It's the most surprising film we've got this year…This one's going straight to the Oscars even though it's gritty, dark, violent. It has amazing ambition and scope."
That's a pretty impressive description. Guess Joaquin Phoenix may very well be giving Heath Ledger a run for his money.
Joker premieres October 4.
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