In Joker, moviegoers were given a possible origin story for Batman’s most enduring archenemy, as they witnessed the circumstances that led a man named Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, to become the Clown Prince of Crime. However, director and co-writer Todd Phillips has since brought up the possibility that Arthur may not actually be the true Joker after all.

“There’s many ways to look at the movie. [Arthur] might not be Joker,” Phillips said in a behind-the-scenes featurette on the movie’s home release entitled Joker: Vision & Fury. “This is just a version of a Joker origin. It’s just the version this guy is telling in this room at a mental institution. I don’t know that he’s the most reliable narrator in the world, you know what I’m saying?”

Even in the comics, namely Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke, The Joker makes it clear he doesn’t remember his origin. However, with Phillips mulling the idea of producing a sequel to create something as insightful as Joker, a possible second movie could further explore the question of Arthur’s status as the real Harlequin of Hate.

Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais and Shea Whigham. The film is currently available on Digital HD on and will arrive on Blu-ray, 4K UHD and DVD Jan. 7, 2020.

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