Why so serious, DC fans?

Deadline just shared the scoop that Warner Bros. and DC are working on another spinoff in the Batman universe, this one telling The Joker's origin story. But Jared Leto shouldn't clear his schedule, since this movie will feature a different -- and maybe younger -- actor in the role.

Here's that section of Deadline's report:

"I'm told that the intention is to make an origin story that isn't part of any other iteration. The Joker has memorably been part of two Batman movies in the form of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger, and was most recently played by Jared Leto in the first 'Suicide Squad' film. He will reprise in the 'Suicide Squad' sequel and the Harley Quinn spinoff, but this new film will launch the character with a different actor, possibly younger."

It may raise your eyebrows to read that Martin Scorsese -- yes, the same -- is producing the film along with Todd Phillips ("The Hangover," "War Dogs"). Phillips is co-writing the script with Scott Silver ("8 Mile") and Phillips is also set to direct.

This Joker film is also meant to be under a new as-yet-unnamed banner separate from the DC Extended Universe, "in which WB can expand the canon of DC properties and create unique storylines with different actors playing the iconic characters."

Deadline added that this Joker origin story aims to be "a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in early-'80s Gotham City that isn't meant to feel like a DC movie as much as one of Scorsese's films from that era, like 'Taxi Driver,' 'Raging Bull' or 'The King Of Comedy.' I'm told that Phillips and Silver are writing already, but there is nothing firm on where this will fit into the DC schedule."

So we don't have a cast, a filming schedule, or a premiere date. But what we do have are some early reactions from Twitter, which got "Joker" trending on Tuesday night:

Since this is in the "early stages" we may have to wait a while for more updates.

[h/t: toofab]

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