Marvel Villain Explains Why He Wants To Play Joker In The DCU

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As a big fan of the DC Universe, I’m already getting excited about all the iconic roles that will be up for grabs as this new era kicks off, and of course, The Joker is a huge one! We’ve seen some amazing performances recently – Joaquin Phoenix twice, and now Barry Keoghan is stepping into the role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman films alongside Robert Pattinson. But honestly, that corner of the DCU feels pretty open right now (Clayface being the main exception!). It feels like every actor in Hollywood will be trying to land the part… which got me thinking, what about Chukwudi Iwuji, who we recently saw in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Peacemaker? He’d be a fascinating choice.

Actor David Oyelowo, who is both Nigerian and British, is well-respected in the superhero genre and has a good working relationship with James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios. He recently told The Movie Dweeb that he’d like to play The Joker. The conversation started after Iwuji stated he hadn’t discussed playing Brainiac in the upcoming Man Of Tomorrow Superman sequel, but then revealed he has a strong vision for how he would portray the iconic villain. The actor explained,

There’s definitely something deeply disturbed about the Joker, isn’t there? But the word ‘maniacal’ feels too broad. What really struck me about Heath Ledger’s portrayal was realizing the Joker constantly changes the story of his father. And when you start to wonder why he does that, it comes back to that sense of loneliness-he’s hiding it behind this extravagant persona, but he keeps inventing a different backstory for his father.

(I don’t want to disagree with his point, but it’s worth noting that only one of the stories Heath Ledger’s Joker tells about his scars mentions his father. The second story is about a potentially gambling-addicted wife – a wife he may or may not have had. However, the fact that he *changes* the story is actually the most important part of what the actor is communicating).

It wasn’t simply the intricate history shown in The Dark Knight that drew the actor in. He also remembers being surprised while watching the stair-dancing scene in the trailer for Todd Phillips’ Joker, realizing that Joaquin Phoenix was collaborating with a director who was eager to give the actor creative freedom.

Chukwudi Iwuji recently portrayed a character with an overwhelming ego-the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, his take on the Joker is quite different. He envisions a deeply wounded and sorrowful character whose inability to overcome his pain would create danger for those around him.

I’d want to really explore his inner life, to ground him, as James Gunn would say. I imagine he’s someone who feels compelled to invent stories about his father, and who secretly wishes he could just be carefree and joyful-but he’s burdened by the role of the Joker. So, there will be a profound sadness within him. I think the Joker has a lot of emotional depth when it comes to sadness. And when someone is so consumed by their own internal struggles, the terrible things they might do to others without even considering the consequences are genuinely frightening.

It’s pretty clear he’s willing to take on the role. However, that brings up the question of whether it’s even possible – a question sparked by his excellent performance as Clemson Murn in Peacemaker Season 1. You might assume this would create a problem, but we’ve already seen actors play multiple characters within the DCU (like Sean Gunn and Michael Rooker). Plus, there’s already been some flexibility in deciding what from the initial episodes is officially part of the story and what isn’t. I don’t believe he’d be ruled out of consideration at all.

Currently, what the future holds for the Joker and the broader world of Batman within the DCU is still unknown. However, we do know that, in addition to the Clayface movie already scheduled for release next year, a major The Brave And The Bold film is also in development, to be directed by Andy Muschietti. Rest assured, you’ll find all the latest news regarding upcoming DC movies right here on TopMob when it becomes available.

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2025-09-30 18:04