Bill Skarsgard’s Dream Joker Casting Would Break A 36-Year-Old Batman Trend

Bill Skarsgard's dream of playing the Joker could lead to a revolutionary take on the Clown Prince of Crime in the DCU, possibly as soon as The Brave and the Bold hits theaters. James Gunn's DCU is gradually establishing Batman's lore, with the announcement of Clayface and Dynamic Duo, and characters such as Clayface, Dr. Phosphorus, and Batman himself appearing for the first time in Creature Commandos. Of course, the DCU's Batman won't make his full on-screen live-action DCU debut until The Brave and the Bold's release. Until then, more Batman-adjacent characters are expected to be introduced in upcoming DCU movies and shows, including Waller and Teen Titans.

As of Batman's animated cameo in Creature Commandos episode 6, the DCU's Batman hasn't been cast yet. Neither have been key Gotham characters like Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Damian Wayne, or the Joker. However, some actors have already put their names forward for these roles. For instance, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jensen Ackles have expressed their interest in playing Batman in the DCU, and Bill Skarsgard said he would like to play the Joker, stating, "I have a really f***ing cool Joker in me." Skarsgard's interest in the Joker role could be a breath of fresh air for the villain.

Bill Skarsgard’s Joker Could Be The First Non-Realistic Movie Joker Since 1989

Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise Could Inspire His Joker Performance

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Bill Skarsgard is a strong contender for the Joker not only due to the talent he has displayed across dozens of varied movies and shows throughout the years, but also because of his standout performance as Pennywise in It: Chapter One and It: Chapter Two. Skarsgard embodied Pennywise's otherworldly nature magnificently, mixing the character's inherent horror with a good dose of humor and physicality. If Bill Skarsgard injected Pennywise's qualities into his Joker performance, it would mark the first time a big-screen, live-action Joker is an unapologetically unrealistic force of nature since at least Tim Burton's 1989 Batman.

Related The DCU's Version Of The Joker Should Break A 16 Year Trend For The Character The the past 16 years, there has been one steady trend with the way the Joker is played in live action, and the DCU should do its best to break it.

Heath Ledger's Joker set the standard for grounded Joker performances in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Since then, Joaquin Phoenix and Jared Leto offered very different interpretations of the villain, but neither of them distanced themselves from the ultra-realistic style of Ledger's performance. Almost forty years before The Brave and the Bold's release, Jack Nicholson played a flamboyant Joker who wielded comical weapons, led gangs of uniformed henchmen, and had multiple wardrobe changes throughout the movie. Skarsgard's Joker could draw inspiration from Nicholson's to deliver a less realistic performance.

Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise Measured Up To Tim Curry’s

Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise Performance Shows How He Can Stand Apart From Previous Joker Actors

Tim Curry's performance was the gold standard when it came to Pennywise for over twenty years. That is, until Bill Skarsgard starred in 2017's It. Skarsgard didn't copy Curry's iteration of the evil clown, and instead offered a brand-new take on Pennywise. Skarsgard's Pennywise leaned more on the character's twisted sense of humor, as well as on his extreme body horror aspects. Skarsgard went so far as to add Pennywise's creepy eye movements and smile himself, without the need for CGI enhancements.

Just like James Gunn is bringing back several of his longtime collaborators for various DCU projects, Muschietti could bring Bill Skarsgard over for a DCU Joker role.

Bill Skarsgard's wildly popular Pennywise was aided by Andy Muschietti's direction. Muschietti updated Stephen King's story with audiovisual elements from modern horror such as VFX, jumpscares, and dynamic cinematography. Skarsgard's Joker could benefit from the same kind of make-up, wardrobe, visual effects, cinematography, and direction as Pennywise given that It director Andy Muschietti is helming The Brave and the Bold for the DCU. Just like James Gunn is bringing back several of his longtime collaborators for various DCU projects, Muschietti could bring Bill Skarsgard over for a DCU Joker role.

The DCU Could Continue To Fulfill Actor Casting Dreams

James Gunn's DCU Might Take Actors' Interest Into Account For Future Castings

Apart from all the DCEU actors who are returning in the DCU despite the latter's reboot nature, the new DC franchise could choose many of its new actors based on their own interest in their roles. Jason Momoa subtly campaigned for Lobo for a long time before his official casting announcement on December 30th, 2024. Likewise, Bill Skarsgard's interest in playing Joker could make him a candidate for the DCU villain, and his previous work with Andy Muschietti could earn him a spot on the shortlist.

Xolo Maridueña's love for Blue Beetle likely played an important role in making him the first confirmed character in the DCU.

While Joker's DCU casting could be announced ahead of The Brave and the Bold's release, the villain's introduction could also be put on hold a little longer. The Brave and the Bold offers the chance to pit Batman against one or more villains who haven't appeared in a movie before, and Barry Keoghan's Joker might have a sizeable role in Matt Reeves' The Batman - Part II or The Batman - Part III. Perhaps the DCU's Joker casting will also depend on the Batman actor chosen for The Brave and the Bold. Still, Bill Skarsgard will remain a strong candidate until then.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! 10/10 The Brave and the Bold Director Andy Muschietti Writers Grant Morrison Franchise(s) DC Universe Expand

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