In the past few days, Warner Bros. has made the fans jump to cloud nine by announcing projects one after another. However, amidst the entire smoke, one new caught everyone’s attention: the announcement of a Joker origins movie. Todd Phillips (The Hangover fame) would direct the film, while the legendary Martin Scorsese will take the chair of the production.
As expected, speculations regarding the titular character have begun. Since the movie is outside the prime DCEU, Jared Leto wouldn’t be reprising his role of the mad clown. Many have been considered for the role, but today Steven Ogg entered the race.
Steven Ogg (of The Walking Dead fame) was at an event related the Blu-ray/DVD release of the show when he was asked it might be interested in portraying The Joker in future. It appears that Ogg is more than eager for the role, especially if it was an origins movie. In his words:
“It’d be fun. I mean, it seems to screw everyone up, whoever does it. They end up going a bit crazy, except if you look at Nicholson’s Joker. But what I was reading, and I’d love to do it, is the younger, like ‘how The Joker became The Joker’ is what they’re working on. So I’d assume it would be a younger person. But that type of character, there certainly would be a lot of interesting things to explore with him. I would love to do my own different take on it, on him. So yeah, if you’re offering it to me, I’ll take it.”
We have seen and loved Ogg as he played Simon, the right-hand man of Megan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) on The Walking Dead. He had also voiced Trevor Phillips on the video game Grand Theft Auto V. His credentials might be equal to the likes of Ledger, Nicholson or Leto, but it is clear that he had the potential.
As per current reports, director Todd Phillips is jointly writing the script of the movie alongside Scott Silver. However, no release date has been specified by the studios.
Steven Ogg, if selected for the role, will have some serious expectations to live up to. Jared Leto is still set to reprise his role of the Joker in the DCEU, as Suicide Squad 2 got a green flag. A Joker and Harley Quinn movie was also announced to replace Gotham City Sirens. This means that we might see two Jokers at the same time. And then, there is the legendary portrayal by Heath Ledger, which made it clear how the Joker must be in flesh. But in any way, we look forward to see new faces try the one with a big smile.
