Imaculata
Hero
If the Star Wars prequels have taught us anything, it's that sand gets everywhere, and that exploring an iconic villains origins isn't always as interesting as it initially sounds on paper. In fact, it can harm the image of the villain a bit.
In my perception, the Joker started off as a pretty goofball villain, as many of Batman's villains did in the original comic. It's later artists that have added a lot more layers to him (and to Batman as well). He is a great villain because of so many years of different takes on him, resulting in a couple of really original ideas. To me, the original Joker was already entertaining, because I really like a villain with a good gimmick. But it's later comics that really made him more than just a gimmick.
I can't say for sure if a Joker movie will work. Maybe with the right actor and a really good script it could become something truly unique. But I have my doubts wether such an iconic villain works as a protagonist, without greatly making changes to his villainous side. That to me is the biggest worry; that they'll make great changes to his character to make him sympathetic and likable, to the point where he is no longer the Joker. The Joker is such a psychopath, that you might need to completely rewrite him, to make him work as the main character. But then what is even the point? On the other hand, if you make him very unlikable, then you're basically watching a movie about an unlikeable protagonist... which did not work out well for Vader.
Last edited:
