To make the next Batman movie, director Matt Reeves has to reimagine the Joker in a new and interesting way. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Reeves talked about how hard it was to give one of movies’ most famous bad guys a new look.
“Anytime you’re going to approach these characters, you have to find a fresh way to do it,” Reeves said. There is a lot of talk about the Joker’s place in the growing Batman universe, and this approach fits with that.
Barry Keoghan, who played the part for a short time in the first movie, wants to play the part again. But Reeves clarified that any new image had to be more than just repeating what had been done before. “The only way to do it is to feel like you’re earning your place,” he added. “Otherwise, you’re just doing more, and people will ask, ‘What else do you have?'”
The task is important. Previous actors have set high standards for the role, like Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight,” which won an Oscar, and Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker,” which focused on the character. Reeves needs to find a way to make his version of the character stand out while still honoring the character’s long past in movies.
When Keoghan made his brief debut in “The Batman,” the creative team’s first move seemed to be an attempt to surprise viewers. The character’s unique look suggested that he or she might have a unique take on the Clown Prince of Crime.
The pressure increases as the Batman brand grows with new projects like the Penguin spinoff series and the new Batman sequel. Reeves and his team need to make a Joker that keeps people interested and stands out from other memorable versions of the character.
There is a lot at stake. Any new Joker movie has to be more than just a repeat of old ones; it has to be completely new and add something new to one of the most complicated characters in comic book movies.
