Recent footage of Joaquin Phoenix (“You Were Never Really Here”) as the Joker has fans divided. A teaser trailer featuring Phoenix in a look reminiscent of classic whiteface clown makeup surfaced as early as Sept. 16, 2018. The look also calls back memories of classic interpretations of the famous comic villain, such as Cesar Romero in the 60s “Batman” TV series, Jack Nicholson in “Batman” (1989) and Heath Ledger’s Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

The look draws its hairstyle from both Ledger and Nicholson, with a balance between a more Nicholson-esque slicked-back look and the messy locks of Ledger. The makeup is messy like Ledger’s but classic like Romero’s. It also bears some resemblance to serial murderer John Wayne Gacy’s clown makeup from the 70s. The blue triangles around the eyes and red eyebrows are the greatest divergence from the usual Joker look but remain in the spirit of the well-beloved and reviled villain.

Though there is not as much detailed footage of Phoenix’s outfit as his makeup, it appears to draw from Romero’s brightly styled clown prince of crime as well as the original Bill Finger and Bob Kane comics. The orange vest, however, draws from both Mark Hamill’s portrayal in “Batman: The Animated Series” and Nicholson in ’89. As for his acting style, Phoenix combines an unnerving presence with jaunty mannerisms that draw from both cartoon and live-action portrayals of the Joker.

This is also the first time since Romero that the Joker will be portrayed by an actor from an ethnic minority, as Romero was Cuban, and Phoenix has mixed Jewish-European ancestry. With a vintage feel and a wide range of influences, it appears that Phoenix will not disappoint with his portrayal. However, the bad track record of the DC cinematic universe in recent years does cast doubt on its ability to please an audience, even with such a well-liked villain. Jared Leto’s recent appearance in “Suicide Squad” left many fans disappointed, as the divergence of his take from classic canon took too many risks with too-shallow characterization.

In a solo movie, Phoenix is less likely to disappoint because he will have more screen time, and his take harkens back to beloved performances. The risks Phoenix and the costume designers have taken appears to be well calculated and are sure to surprise, if not please, the picky audiences comic book movies are known to have.

Image from John Campea via YouTube.com