The world will get a taste of director Todd Phillips’Jokerwhen the first trailer debuts tomorrow. But today, we have word out of CinemaCon of what this sneak peek contains. The first footage was shown to exhibitors, and the word on the street is that we’re all in for a very dark, tragic and sadistic treat as Joaquin Phoenix dons the make-up of DC’s iconic Clown Prince of Crime.
This doesn’t sound like your typical DC movie. WhileMan of SteelandBatman V Supermanwere dark and humorless, andAquamanandShazamwere bright poppy splashes of fun, thisJokerstand alone movie sounds like a completely different kind of beast altogether. It does not stand in the DCEU, and is not currently connected to any other movie or directly setting up another spin-off. It does however, in the first teaser, contain quite a few iconic pieces of Batman paraphernalia.
Warner Bros. is insisting that this movie is a one-off. There will be no sequels forJoker, which hint at a grim fate for the iconic villain. At least in this incarnation. We already know another version of the Joker will show up for a cameo inBirds of Prey, though it doesn’t appear to be eitherJoaquin Phoenixor Jared Leto playing him.Jokerstands on its own two clown shoes.
DirectorTodd Phillipswas on hand to discussJokerand the footage he brought with him. He says it’s a very difficult movie to talk about. He described it as an origin story for an iconic character that has no definitive origin in the DC canon, though there have been various backstories created around the maniacal creep.
“I don’t have a lot to say about the film, as it’s still taking shape, but also because I want it to be a surprise. That said, there’s been a lot of chatter about what this film is and what it isn’t and most of it hasn’t been accurate. When the marketing department at Warners asked me the other day to describe the movie, I said ‘I can’t.’ They said at least tell me the genre and I thought about it for a minute and said ‘it’s a tragedy.'”
And from the sounds of the footage, it definitely comes on like a raging tragedy in the truest sense of the word. The teaser kicks off withArthur Fleckin therapy, giving Joker a real name new to the character. Phoenix says this in voiceover.
“My mother always tells me to smile and put on a happy face. She told me I had a purpose, to bring laughter and joy to the world.”
The footage cuts to Arthur bathing his mother, played byAmerican Horror StorymainstayFrances Conroy. We then see the future clown get attacked in the streets of Gotham, and this incident appears to push him down a very dark path. Arkham hospital is shown in fleeting glimpses.Thomas Wayne is seen on TV talking about Arthur Fleck’s crime spree. The City of Gotham is name dropped a number of times.
“Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?”
The trailer shows Arthur Fleck trying on different clown outfits as he attempts to discover his true Joker persona. He first dresses as a clown with a big green afro, which we’ve seen in some of the set photos shared by director Todd Phillips. Fleck eventually dyes his hair green, with the teaser presenting its money shot. Joker is seen in what will be his iconic villain costume. The voiceover continues.
“I used to think my life was a tragedy. But now I realize, it’s a comedy.”
Jokeris coming on the heels ofAquamanandShazam. The first was a huge blockbuster smash that went onto become the top grossing DC movie of all time, swimming well past $1B at the box office.Shazamopens this weekend, and has been generating very positive reviews and should be another big hit.
Jokeris a smaller movie. Quiet in a way. Not a bombastic superhero outing like we’re used to. It already looks like a cult experience that may not generate the same type of big box office as its predecessors. But it should break even on its relatively small budget.Jokeris in theaters July 29, 2025. It will be followed byBirds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)on Jun 09, 2025, andWonder Woman 1984on July 15, 2025.DC Super Petswill lead off 2021, arriving May 21. It will be followed byThe Batmanon June 15, 2025, James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squadon Jun 06, 2025 and Aquaman 2 on Jul 14, 2025.
Exhibitors who have seen the firstJokerfootage are already comparing Joaquin Phoenix to Jack Nicolson and Heath Ledger, though Jared Leto appears to be left out of that conversation. Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Shea Whigham, Frances Conroy, Marc Maron, Douglas Hodge and Brett Cullen all co-star along with Joaquin Phoenix. Here are a couple of tweet reactions from those in attendance.
