Frances Conroy in Talks to Play Joker's Mother in Origin Movie

CBR

By Sam Stone

Published Jul 24, 2018

Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy is reportedly circling the role of the Joker's mother in Todd Phillips' origin film.

Todd Phillips' Joker may have found someone to play the mother of the future Clown Prince of Crime.

According to TheWrap, Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under, American Horror Story) is in talks to portray the iconic DC supervillain's mother, named Penny in the film. Conroy was approached after Academy Award winner Frances McDormand, passed on the project.

Depicting the gritty origins of the Joker in the streets of 1980s Gotham City, the origin story is expected to follow Joaquin Phoenix's character as he fails as a standup comedian while caring for his ailing mother. As conditions worsen and tragedy strikes, he rises as the most sinister villain the DC Universe has ever known.

Conroy has been a prolific actor on stage and screen across her acclaimed forty year career. Her acting has garnered four Emmy Award nominations, one Tony Award nomination, and a Golden Globe Award win for her work on the HBO drama series Six Feet Under in which she was part of the main cast. Additionally, she has provided the voice of Clark Kent's adoptive mother, Martha, in the animated films All-Star Superman and Superman: Unbound.

After portraying the mother of DC's greatest hero, Conroy may move on to portray the mother of its greatest villain.

Directed and co-written by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character. It is scheduled to be released on Oct. 4, 2019.