In an era where comic book adaptations reign supreme, rumors can often spread like wildfire. Recently, reports emerged suggesting that a new TV series centered around Barry Keoghan’s portrayal of the Joker was in the works.
The series was set to bridge the gap between ‘The Batman Part II’ and ‘The Batman Part III.’ However, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn has firmly denied these claims, putting an end to the swirling speculation.
James Gunn Sets The Record Straight About The Rumored Joker Series
The rumors initially gained traction after being mentioned on an episode of the Marvelvision podcast. In the episode, it was alleged that James Gunn and Matt Reeves, the director behind ‘The Batman,’ were collaborating on a series akin to HBO’s ‘The Penguin.’
Related: Scriptwriter Paul Schrader Could Not Last 20 Minutes While Watching ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’
The suggestion was that Barry Keoghan’s Joker would be given a platform to develop between film installments. However, Gunn quickly took to Threads to dispel these claims, posting, “A Joker series is not being discussed nor has even come up at this time.”
View on Threads
He further added that the sudden influx of messages had surprised him, stating, “Turn on threads and everyone is asking me about this. No, there is absolutely no truth to this.” This clarification from Gunn is consistent with Matt Reeves’ previous comments. The director had previously expressed hesitation about diving into another Joker-centric story.
Despite a deleted scene from ‘The Batman‘ showcasing Keoghan’s character and hinting at a deeper relationship with Robert Pattinson’s Batman, Reeves had maintained that this was not a set-up for future films or series. “It’s not an Easter egg scene,” Reeves told Variety in 2022. “I have no idea when or if we would return to that character in the movies.”
Matt Reeves Told Barry Keoghan That He Wasn’t Sure About Anything Going Forward With His Joker
The idea of a Joker TV series, while intriguing to some, raised eyebrows in light of the recently mixed reception to Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’. The film was a disaster at the box office. Additionally, Barry Keoghan’s iteration of the Joker appeared only briefly in ‘The Batman’ as an “Unseen Arkham Inmate.”
In case you missed it: Quentin Tarantino Says He “Really, Really Liked” Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ Amid Heavy Criticism
Due to this, there were a lot of rumors regarding the character’s future. Now, James Gunn has decided to put an end to the conversation. Whereas, Reeves was transparent from the start with Keoghan. “I said to Barry, right from the beginning. ‘Look, I don’t know where this is going to go. I can’t promise that it’ll even ever come back. I don’t know,’” Reeves shared.
Gunn’s latest statement reiterates that no discussions have been held about a series featuring Keoghan’s Joker. Moreover, the statement also aligns with Reeves’ vision for his Batman franchise. Matt since the beginning didn’t want to lean into predictable tropes. While the Joker will always hold an enigmatic allure, it seems that the future of Keoghan’s Joker remains dark.
