Joker movie: Who does Robert De Niro play in new DC Comics film?

Joker received an eight minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Fans are desperate to see the origins of their favourite super villain. But fans are even more excited to see who veteran actor Robert De Niro will be playing.

Who will Robert De Niro play in Joker?

Robert De Niro is set to play Murray Franklin, a talk show host who has a hand in comedian Arthur Fleck becoming the Joker.

According to Indiewire, De Niro has cited his own work in Martin Scorcese’s King of Comedy as an important link to Joker.

The 1983 film follows Rupert Pupkin, a down-on-his-luck comedian who uses criminal means to get the attention of a talk show host who mocked him, played by Jerry Lewis.

In Joker, however, De Niro assumes the role of talk show host to Joaquin Phoenix’s comedian, Arthur Fleck, who is also struggling with his mental health, living in poverty and an interesting relationship with his mother.

Who else is in the cast of Joker?

Joaquin Phoenix will play the titular role in what some are calling an Oscar-worthy performance.

He will play Arthur Fleck, whose poor luck in the comedy circuit mixed with his own demons lead to his turning to a life of crime.

Alongside him is Zazie Beetz, a single mother and Arthur’s love interest, while Frances Conroy plays Penny, his mother.

Other stars include Marc Maron, playing an agent, and Bryan Called as a stripper.

Naturally, the Wayne family are also in the film, with Douglas Hodge as Alfred Pennyworth, Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne, father to Bruce, who grows up to become the Joker’s nemesis.

How does this film fit into the DCEU?

The DC Extended Universe has so far included Wonder Woman, Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman and Justice League, to name a few of the films.

So far, the Joker has appeared once in Suicide Squad, where Jared Leto portrayed him as an almost gangster-like figure.

While many fans may be excited at the idea of this movie being the beginning of Joaquin Phoenix’s stint in the DCEU, it has been reported one of his attractions to the role came in the fact he would not have to portray the Joker in multiple movies.

In order for this to work this film will launch a new sub-section of the DC movie universe, DC Black, a series of DC-based films separate from the DCEU.

So, luckily for Jared Leto, the two Jokers will sit alongside each other.

Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, who was beside Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad, is set to star in Birds of Prey, a new film where she has split from her psychotic lover, so the future of the Joker is unclear.

Joker comes out in UK cinemas on October 4