Joker is an upcoming American crime film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is directed by Todd Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro, Frances Conroy, Marc Maron, and Bryan Callen. The project was announced in August 2017, with Todd Phillips directing and co-writing with Scott Silver. It is the first film in a series of DC films separate from the DC Extended Universe. Principal photography began in September