Warner Brothers has another Joker movie in the pipeline. Earlier this week it was reported that the studio was developing an origin story film for the Batman villain with The Hangover‘s Todd Phillips directing and co-writing the screenplay and none other than Martin Scorsese directing. Now comes word that the studio is in final negotiations with Crazy, Stupid Love co-writers and directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa to script and helm a film featuring the Joker and his paramour Harley Quinn.
According to the Hollywood Reporter –
The film is described as a “criminal love story,” according to one source, featuring the two murdering maniacs who are cornerstones in the Batman mythos. One insider offered this: “an insane and twisted love story. When Harry Met Sally on benzedrine.”
Harley Quinn, originally Harley Quinzel, was originally the Joker’s psychiatrist during one of the insane villain’s frequent incarcerations in Arkham Asylum. The Joker slowly seduced Harley, driving her insane as part of an escape plan. Despite his mistreatment of her, Harley became fixated on the Joker, a fact that the Clown Prince of Crime has used to his advantage.
The two characters previously appeared in last summer’s Suicide Squad as played by Jared Leto and Margot Robbie respectively. The pair’s relationship was explored in that film, though not very effectively. The amount of rediting and reshoots that the film underwent severely undercut that story line.
Robbie and Leto are already slated to appear in a Suicide Squad sequel that the studio hopes to have in front of cameras next year at this time. Additionally, Robbie’s Harley Quinn will be headlining Gotham City Sirens, which would feature a number of female villains from the Batman comics. Suicide Squad director David Ayer is set to helm this film with Geneva Dworet-Robertson scripting. Leto’s Joker has been rumored to possibly be making an appearance in this film as well.
The Joker-Harley love story will be set in Warner Brothers’ DC Comics Extended Universe franchise of films, whereas the Joker origin film announced earlier this week will be part of a new, as yet unbranded franchise banner utilizing DC Comics characters on their own.
The Hollywood Reporter is stating that the plans are for this film to go into production after Suicide Squad 2 wraps. They also imply that there is a ticking clock on the project “as Warners has to contend with actors’ holding agreements.”
