Gotham star David Mazouz revealed that the Joker is coming to the Fox DCTV series. However, longtime character Jerome Valeska will not become the Clown Prince of Crime.
Despite previous reports from the likes of series EP Bryan Wynbrandt that Jerome was only an "homage" to the real Joker, viewers held out hope that Cameron Monaghan's acclaimed character was the real deal. However, speaking to DiscussingFilm, Mazouz revealed that the real Joker will indeed turn up down the line.
"[Jerome] is not the Joker, that's all I'll say. He’s definitely the inspiration for the Joker and the way that the Joker comes into the show, for me, is one of the most brilliant things Gotham has ever done," he teased.
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According to ComicBook.com, Monaghan later clarified Mazouz's comment in a now deleted tweet, writing, "I can confirm. What we've cooked up and discussed is something not to be missed. It's a twist on familiar themes, both new and old echoes of the mythos. Something entirely new, but we believe true to the spirit of the show as well as the comics. Proud I got to be a part of it."
The Joker, whoever he may be, will join the ranks of Gotham's most villainous foes, which includes Robin Lord Taylor's Oswald Cobblepot and Alexander Siddig as Ra's al Ghul. Although Monaghan's performance has been praised, the expanded backstory of "the Joker" can be accused of taking away some of the character's dangerous intrigue, which is perhaps why Jerome will not evolve into the character. It is unclear when the real Joker will turn up on the series.
While his appearances have been sporadic on the show, Jerome has been a recurring character, most recently returning from the dead to cause havoc for the GCPD in Season 4's "A Dark Knight & Dawn of Night." Whether Jerome will still play a part or will be slowly written out remains to be seen.
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Currently in its fourth season, the Batman prequel series charts Bruce Wayne's journey to becoming the Caped Crusader alongside Jim Gordon's rise through the ranks of the GCPD. Some fans had thought that Cameron Monaghan's Jerome was playing a younger version of the Clown Prince of Crime in fitting with the rest of the show's characters, but it looks like that will not be the case.
Gotham stars Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, Robin Lord Taylor as Penguin, Cameron Bicondova as Selina Kyle, Erin Richards as Barbara Kean and Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth.