Alec Baldwin is heading to Gotham for his next big screen role.
Update (August 29): Turn out his casting was a bit of a… joke. Days after confirmation of his casting, USA Today has been told by Baldwin that he’s no longer doing the movie, citing scheduling issues. “I’m sure there are 25 guys who can play that part,” Baldwin said. Weird.
He added on Twitter:
Let me state, for the record, that I have NOT been hired to play a role in Todd Phillips’ JOKER as some Donald Trump manque.
That is not happening.
Not.
Happening.— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) August 29, 2018
Original story (August 27): According to Deadline, actor Alec Baldwin has officially signed on to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in director Todd Phillips’ upcoming Joker movie.
Though Warner Brothers hasn’t commented on who Baldwin will be playing, rumor has it that the seasoned Hollywood vet may be playing none other than Batman’s father, Thomas Wayne.
Comic book lovers and movie goers alike are well aware that the murder of his parents is ultimately what drives Bruce Wayne to take on his life as Batman, the masked vigilante that keeps the streets of Gotham City safe from crime.
So how does Thomas Wayne fit into an origin story about the Clown Prince of Crime?
As Deadline points out, recent films have chosen to follow a storyline that was featured fairly early on in the Batman comics in which Joe Chill, a mugger and hitman, is ultimately the one who pulls the trigger on Bruce’s mother and father as they’re leaving the theater.
Movie buffs who have been following the many iterations of the Caped Crusader we’ve seen on the big screen however might remember that in Tim Burton’s 1989 film, it was actually the Joker who is responsible for the death of Bruce’s parents.
Though there’s no telling if Phillips is gearing up to follow the storyline Burton set up, it certainly makes for an interesting scenario that would add an extra element to Batman’s long-held hatred of one of Gotham City’s most infamous villains.
Baldwin isn’t the only other big name who’s recently joined the cast of the upcoming solo Joker film.
Earlier this summer we learned that Robert De Niro had also joined the cast. They join previously announced cast members Frances Conroy, Marc Aaron, and Zazie Beetz.
Phillips is set to begin principle photography on the film next month on September 10. Currently, Warner Bros., is planning to release the film on the big screen next year on October 4, 2019.