Summary

Multiple interpretations of the Joker exist side-by-side and are all considered valid in the DC Comics universe, according to DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.
Canon should not be the sole focus when evaluating the greatness of a story, as some of the best DC stories are not considered canon.
Fans of the Joker can expect to see three different versions of the iconic villain on-screen in the coming years, including Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal in the upcoming sequel to
Joker
and Barry Keoghan’s anticipated debut in Matt Reeves’
The Batman
sequel.

The Joker has been reimagined more than any other villain in the history of DC Comics. Since making his debut in 1940, the clown prince of Gotham City has been depicted as everything from a happy-go-lucky jester to a hideously disfigured mass-murderer, and he has even been transformed into completely other forms such as lizards. However, all of these forms, and the origin stories that come with them, are all perfectly fine to exist side-by-side according to DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.

In any franchise, die-hard fans have a constant need for things to be canon, and are very quick to point out when something strays from the path. With another new Joker likely to be introduced at some point in the new DCU, Gunn addressed the way audiences focus on canon often just means that some great stories are overlooked. On his Threads account, Gunn was asked whether he sees The Killing Joke – one of the most popular stories featuring Joker – as the “true origin” of the character. He replied:

“I consider whatever I’m reading “true” in the moment I’m reading it! As for canon, I’m not in charge of mainstream DC Comics continuity – just that of the DCU (which will intersect & sway away & intersect again etc with DC comics). These characters are all myths & I really enjoy the variations on them – especially when the artists understand the core of what I believe makes a character great & understands their history while offering a new spin.”

It is clear that Gunn is preparing to do something similar with the DCU that Kevin Feige has done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, taking the bare bones of certain story arcs and interpreting them into the wider narrative that is being created on screen. When another follower of Gunn noted that some of their favorite stories are not considered canon, and focusing on canon too much means these tales slip through. Gunn responded:

At least half of the top ten greatest DC stories aren’t canon

Multiple Jokers Will Exist on Screen at the Same Time
Warner Bros.

Thanks to DC Studios now looking to embark on their DCU adventure, while allowing other unconnected DC franchises to exist under the Elseworlds banner, fans of the Joker are likely to see three very different interpretations of the iconic villain appear on-screen in the coming years.

Joaquin Phoenix will reprise his role as Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019’s billion dollar R-rated Joker, later this year. While the sequel will take on a surreal musical quality, the depiction of this version of Joker is something close to that of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, in that it strips away the fantastical elements of the franchise to instead deliver a stark and disturbing character study of Fleck’s mental state.

Joker: Folie a Deux Release Date October 4, 2024 Studio BRON Studios, Bron Creative, DC Entertainment

Speaking of The Batman, Barry Keoghan will reportedly make his full debut as Joker in Matt Reeves’ sequel to the Robert Pattinson hit after his fleeting appearance in the original movie. Again, Keoghan’s take on the character is a somewhat grounded version of the character, but exactly what kind of Joker he will be is something that has not been fully revealed.

Then finally, we have the DCU. Currently, Gunn and Peter Safran have made no comment on if and when the Joker will make his first appearance in their grand plan, but the idea of having a long-running franchise that features Batman and doesn’t have its own Joker is unthinkable. It seems that we will just have to wait to find out what interpretation of the character becomes “canon” to the DCU.

Joker: Folie à Deux
is set to debut in theaters on October 4, 2024.