Joaquin Phoenix Reveals ‘I Talked to Christopher Nolan’ About Playing the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight,’ but ‘I Wasn’t Ready Then’

As a movie enthusiast with a penchant for delving into the intricacies of Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes stories, I find this revelation about Joaquin Phoenix and his potential role as the Joker fascinating. It’s intriguing to ponder what could have been if Phoenix had taken on the role in 2008 instead of Heath Ledger, who delivered an iconic performance that posthumously earned him an Oscar.


As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share an intriguing tidbit from a recent chat on “Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin.” For the very first time, Joaquin Phoenix confessed that way back in 2008, when Christopher Nolan was masterminding “The Dark Knight,” he was offered the role of the Joker. However, at that point in time, I wasn’t quite ready to step into the menacing shoes of the Batman villain that Heath Ledger so iconically filled.

Joaquin Phoenix stated he had a conversation with Chris Nolan about ‘The Dark Knight’, but for some unknown reason, this discussion never took place. At the time, I wasn’t prepared. It’s like wondering, ‘What within me is preventing this from happening?’ It’s not about my capabilities. There’s something else at play. Another individual was meant to take on a role. … I can hardly imagine how the film would have been if Heath Ledger hadn’t given his exceptional performance in that movie.

Phoenix mentioned that he’s unsure if Christopher Nolan specifically told him, ‘You are undoubtedly the one for the role,’ as he can’t recall the specific details of their initial encounter. However, he does remember meeting Nolan, and his impression was that he shouldn’t take the part, but perhaps Nolan also felt Phoenix wasn’t the right fit.

In a striking turn of events, Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight” garnered an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor following his untimely demise. Five years later, Joaquin Phoenix took on the iconic role under Todd Phillips’ direction in 2019’s “Joker,” earning him an Oscar for Best Actor. This movie was a commercial success, surpassing $1 billion globally and leading to a sequel titled “Joker: Folie à Deux” featuring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Unfortunately, the sequel has been met with harsh criticism from both critics and audiences, resulting in disappointing box office earnings of just $57 million domestically since its release on October 4. Globally, it has managed to accumulate $201 million thus far.

According to THR’s latest report, it appears that Director Christopher Nolan influenced the original “Joker” movie by reportedly vetoing Todd Phillips’ concept for the film to conclude with Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker etching a grin onto his own face. The distinctive facial scars of Heath Ledger’s Joker from “The Dark Knight” were a signature element, and Nolan apparently didn’t want this replicated by Phoenix. In contrast, the forthcoming film “Folie à Deux” finishes with a character engraving a smile into his visage, which Phillips is now said to have been granted permission to do since he no longer collaborates with Warner Bros., where Nolan was previously affiliated.

Listen to Phoenix’s full interview on “Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin” in the video below.

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2024-10-29 00:48