Joker Producer Says It’s ‘Unlike Any Comic Book Movie’

From the very beginning, it seemed quite clear that the upcoming Joker movie was something other than what we were used to seeing from comic book movies. The trailers have certainly reinforced that idea, giving us a film that looks not only dark, but downright grim. Now, one producer is taking things a step further and saying that Joker will be completely unique among comic book movies.

Executive producer Michael E. Uslan spoke at the recent CCXP Cologne Convention in Germany and (via ComciBook.com) said that, while there have certainly been new and different comic book movies before that took the genre in new directions, Joker is set to be one that will break molds once again. According to Uslan...

Both Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool were massive hits, and certainly Joker would like to follow suit in that regard. There's also certainly an argument that part of what made these movies hits was the fact that they stood out because they were different. Guardians was based on a comic property that most people were utterly unfamiliar with, and it also made comedy a more important element than previous MCU movies.

Similarly, Deadpool was the first R-rated comic book movie, and it took humor to yet another level with a unique style. Joker will be following suit with the R-rating, though the movie doesn't actually look all that funny.

When the Joker movie was first announced, it was already looking unlike anything we were used to seeing. While the Joker existed in DC's film universe thanks to Jared Leto in Suicide Squad, this movie was being set outside of existing continuity. Also, Martin Scorsese was one of the listed producers, which made it instantly one of the most high profile comic book movies ever.

It's already been said that the new Joker movie doesn't draw from any existing comic book and from the look of things, it may have only ever taken its premise from the comics. The rest of the story doesn't look or feel like what we'd expect from a comic book movie at all.

For Michael E. Uslan, a movie setting itself apart is important. The fact is that comic book movies have become ubiquitous and its just hard for him, and one assumes others as well, to get excited about them when so many of them fall into similar categories.

Of course, while being different certainly has value, simply being different doesn't make a movie good. For that we'll have to wait and see just what sort of movie Todd Philips, Joaquin Phoenix, and the rest of the cast and crew have created.

Joker hits theaters in October.