The DC and Marvel movie debate has simmered for as long as superheroes have been on-screen. Now, the Joker movie (opens in new tab) director, Todd Phillips, has addressed how his standalone movie starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Crown Prince of Crime, can’t compete directly with Marvel – which is why he’s doing something different.
During an interview with ComicBook (opens in new tab), Phillips bluntly said, “You can’t beat Marvel – it’s a giant behemoth.” Which is why, instead of fighting the MCU head-on, the director decided to give a succinct mission statement instead for his project: “Let’s do something they can’t do.”
The Joker movie, which exists away from the current DC universe of interconnected stories involving the likes of Wonder Woman (opens in new tab) and Aquaman (opens in new tab), has received praise for its unconventional approach to the genre. Sister publication Total Film’s five-star review said the Joker went to “deeper, darker and more disturbing places than any comic book movie to date,” suggesting that Phillips has pulled off what he was hoping to achieve.
Phillips may even have eyes on a sequel. He recently told Total Film (opens in new tab): “If people show up to this movie, and [Warner Bros.] came to us and said, ‘You know what? If you guys could think of something…’ Well, I have a feeling that he and I could think of something pretty cool.”
Also, unlike any entry in the MCU thus far, the Joker movie has a confirmed R-Rating (opens in new tab), with “strong bloody violence, disturbing behaviour, language, and brief sexual images” all being featured.
Here are the best superhero movies (opens in new tab) around – where do you think Joker will end up on the list?