You Probably Missed DC’s Best Live-Action Joker

As a huge DC fan, I’m completely hooked on everything James Gunn is doing with the new DCU. And honestly, nothing gets me more excited than hearing about casting choices! Right now, everyone is buzzing about Batman: The Brave and the Bold – we’re all waiting to see who’s going to play the new Batman, but the biggest question on everyone’s mind is: who will be the Joker? The speculation is wild, and I’m here for it!

As a movie fan, I’m always blown away by the Joker. He’s just such a captivating villain, and the role seems to really push any actor who takes it on. Think about it – Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight was absolutely terrifying and really captured the spirit of that film, and then Joaquin Phoenix completely redefined the character with his own, more complex take in the recent solo movie. It’s amazing how much impact this one character has had, even outside of the Batman universe!

Everyone’s buzzing about who should play the Joker next – Bill Skarsgård seems really keen, which is cool – but honestly, I think we’ve already seen the best live-action Joker. And it wasn’t in a movie! It was in the show Gotham. That series, which ran from 2014 to 2019, actually gave us two different versions of the Joker, and Cameron Monaghan absolutely nailed both of them. He was incredible!

Gotham Gave Fans The Best Live-Action Joker So Far – Twice

Gotham’s Twin Takes On The Joker Were The Closest Live-Action Version To The Comics Yet

The TV series Gotham took a unique risk with its portrayal of the Joker. Instead of one actor, Cameron Monaghan played two versions of the character – Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska. Both were wildly unpredictable and memorable, and Monaghan skillfully showed different facets of Batman’s iconic enemy, even though neither was officially called ‘the Joker’.

Jerome made a striking entrance in Gotham as a cruel and flamboyant killer. His crazy laugh and love of mayhem immediately reminded viewers of the Joker. His performance brilliantly combined elements of both Mark Hamill’s voice work as the Joker and Heath Ledger’s portrayal in the movie, making him a captivating, unpredictable, and thrillingly frightening character to watch.

Jerome Valeska, with his disturbingly cheerful demeanor even during violent outbursts, evolved from a small-time criminal into a beloved villain, establishing the darkly whimsical style of the TV show Gotham. Later, when the show introduced Jeremiah, Jerome’s brother, actor Cameron Monaghan brilliantly portrayed this new character, even though Jeremiah was a completely different personality.

Following Jerome Valeska’s death on Gotham, his twin brother, Jeremiah, was introduced. Jeremiah portrayed a colder, more strategic side of the Joker, resembling the calculating criminal masterminds from stories like The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns. This was a clever move, as it separated the Joker’s chaotic and intellectual sides into two distinct characters, allowing the show to delve deeper into his complex mind.

Cameron Monaghan’s portrayal of the Joker was unique. While actors like Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jack Nicholson each captured one key aspect of the character – chaos, pain, and theatricality, respectively – Monaghan skillfully embodied all three. What’s more, he did this over the course of a multi-season TV series, allowing his interpretation of the Joker to develop and change over time.

The show gave the Joker’s backstory the space it needed to develop, showing how trauma, charm, and instability built up over time – something movies often can’t achieve. The story didn’t even need to explicitly mention ‘Joker’; the Valeska twins, as portrayed by Monaghan, captured the character’s essence, style, and overall impact, and many would say it’s the best live-action version we’ve ever seen.

Cameron Monaghan’s Jokers Meshed His Best Comic-Book Arcs Into A Unique Take On The Character

Gotham Blended The Joker’s Best Comic Storylines Into One Cohesive And Terrifying Vision

What made Gotham so compelling wasn’t just Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Joker, but how the show cleverly drew from decades of Batman comics to develop its two Joker characters, Jerome and Jeremiah. Their storylines felt like a patchwork of classic Joker tales, seamlessly woven together into something new and exciting.

Jerome’s return from seeming death and his disfigured appearance were reminiscent of the ‘Death of the Family’ storyline by Scott Snyder, where the Joker shockingly cuts off and reattaches his own face. The show depicted this disturbing idea effectively, blending horror and dark humor to establish Jerome as a truly terrifying character.

The show Gotham explored the idea of multiple Jokers – a concept later confirmed in the Three Jokers comic. It did this by introducing two brothers who shared aspects of the Joker’s personality. Jerome captured the Joker’s wild, showman-like side, while Jeremiah represented his cunning and fixations. Together, they created a complete picture of the iconic villain fans recognize.

The show also drew inspiration from the dark and tragic themes of The Killing Joke. Jeremiah’s journey into insanity, triggered by chemical exposure, clearly echoed Alan Moore’s idea that a single terrible day can drive someone to madness. His relationship with Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) was reminiscent of the Joker’s obsession with Batman – two opposing forces seemingly destined to collide.

What sets Monaghan’s Joker apart is his ability to pay tribute to previous interpretations without simply copying them. He didn’t mimic Ledger, Nicholson, or Hamill; instead, he created his own unique version of the character. By incorporating familiar elements – like the Joker’s terrifying physical transformations and mental cruelty – Gotham developed a Joker story that respected the original source material while still feeling fresh and original.

The DCU Should Look To Gotham For How It Handles Its Batman Villains

Gotham Proved That DC Villains Work Best When Treated Like Complex, Layered Characters

With anticipation growing for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, it’s clear that Batman’s villains are just as crucial to the story as Batman himself. These villains aren’t simply criminals; they reflect the inner turmoil of Bruce Wayne, a connection Gotham highlighted particularly well in its portrayal.

Besides the memorable Jokers, the show Gotham really excelled at portraying classic villains. Cory Michael Smith’s portrayal of Edward Nygma was a brilliant, gradual change, showing how an awkward lab worker became the obsessive Riddler. Robin Lord Taylor brought a surprising amount of sadness and complexity to the Penguin, making him both a dangerous criminal and a sympathetic character. Even characters with smaller roles, like Barbara Kean (played by Erin Richards), became complex and unpredictable.

The DC Universe should take inspiration from the show Gotham. Rather than simply repeating familiar villain tropes or relying on shocking moments, Gotham explored each villain’s story as a tragic one. We understood why they did what they did, their journeys felt deeply personal, and their connections with Bruce Wayne added complexity to the lines between good and evil.

If James Gunn’s upcoming Brave and the Bold aims to reimagine Batman for modern audiences, it would benefit from following the example set by the Gotham TV series. Specifically, the film should give Batman’s villains the same depth and emotional resonance as the hero himself, which would greatly expand the story’s possibilities.

The movie Gotham showed us that a truly compelling Batman story—a great one—hinges on having strong villains, particularly iconic ones like the Joker.

2025-10-31 01:11