DCEU: Ranking the rumored movies in development

8. Joker

The announcement that Jared Leto was developing a solo film for his version of the Joker, which appeared in Suicide Squad, was met with mixed reaction. On the one hand, it offers a talented actor a second crack at an iconic character that was otherwise misused by director David Ayer in a movie that had plenty of other issues. However, it also comes after production is set to begin on the Joker origin film starring Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix’s movie is separate from the DCEU but if it’s a hit, it will put pressure on Leto’s film. There is also the risk of over-saturation considering the number of films and television series the Joker has appeared in during the past 10 years alone.

But let’s assume that general audiences can put all that aside and differentiate the Jokers. Leto’s performance in Suicide Squad was already so different than Heath Ledger’s in The Dark Knight that a solo film could still be enjoyable. Some fans had trouble getting over the tattoos, clothes, and jewelry that Leto wore but most of the decisions were by Ayer. Most agreed that Leto deserved more screen time and a more comic-accurate portrayal of his relationship with Harley Quinn.

Margot Robbie is already set to reprise her role as Harley in Birds of Prey and reports indicate that Warner Bros. is eager to find more projects for the character. A standalone Joker film can help achieve that goal while also making full use of Leto’s talent. Going forward, he can continue to be an antagonist to Task Force X and of course the Bat-Family or even find his way into Luthor’s Legion of Doom.