Joaquin Phoenix to play The Joker in Scorsese produced film, Ben Affleck might not return as Batman

Remember, months ago, there were rumblings of a Joaquin Phoenix-starring Joker movie, producer by Martin Scorsese? Well, those reports have been proven true, the origins story filming later this year and the budget placed at $55 million.

The confirmation from The Hollywood Reporter comes following the departure of executive Geoff Johns and president Diane Nelson from DC Entertainment.

Walter Hamada – who previously produced The Conjuring series, Lights Out, and It – has since taken over, sources describing the studio as a “shitshow” which has needed a thorough cleaning.

The report details how Hamada currently hopes to save Warner Bros. superhero studio following the disappointing Justice League.

First, there’s Aquaman, the only DC movie coming this year, helmed by horror director James Wan. Then there’s Shazam! and Wonder Woman 1984, both of which were announced before Hamada took over.

Following those releases, the schedule remains bare: Hamada apparently dislikes the idea of announcing movies way before their initial release, a strategy that has proven bad for almost everyone except Marvel. However, thanks to the report, we still know what DC are planning behind closed doors.

Presently, Hamada is looking at two Joker movies, the first with Phoenix, directed by The Hangover trilogy’s Todd Phillips and unrelated to the previously released DC movies, under a different banner such as “DC Dark” or “DC Black.” There’s also a Jared Leto-based Joker movie being worked on, Leto having played the character in Suicide Squad, although there’s no more information on that title.

The producers also have their eyes then set on releasing The Flash with Ezra Miller as the speedster, Game Night team of John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein acting as directors and writers, production beginning early 2019. According to the report, the duo are taking inspiration from Back to the Future.

A Birds of Prey movie, centring Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, remains a priority, Sundance filmmaker Cathy Yan already attached to direct. And finally, Batgirl, which lost Joss Whedon earlier this year, is currently in the works, Bumblebee screenwriter Christina Hodson penning the script.

The biggest question remaining concerns Matt Reeves Batman movie. The Planet of the Apes reboot director has reportedly handed in the first act of a script, based on a young version of the Caped Crusader. While Ben Affleck has played the iconic hero in Justice League and Batman v Superman, the actor likely won’t return for the upcoming movie.

No word yet on the previously announced Green Lantern, Justice League Dark, Cyborg, Suicide Squad 2, Gotham City Sirens, Nightwing, Black Adam, Man of Steel 2, Deadshot, Justice League 2, Lobo, Deadshot, and Deathstroke.