Joker: Marc Maron Calls Film a 'Character Study of a Mentally Ill Person'

CBR

By Narayan Liu

Published Mar 28, 2019

Actor Marc Maron described working on Warner Bros.' upcoming origin film, Joker, and what the film is actually about.

The Joker has fascinated comic book readers and cinema lovers for decades. The twisted, unpredictable Clown Prince of Crime makes for a fascinating subject of exploration and fans -- even professional psychologists -- have long attempted to understand him. Now, with the origin story Joker on its way to theaters, fans may get a unique perspective to help them figure the classic villain out.

Marc Maron, who plays Ted Marco in the upcoming film, spoke to New Musical Express about his experience working on Joker. Maron, who admitted to being somewhat apathetic toward superhero films, stated that he was persuaded to get involved with the project after discovering that Joaquin Phoenix was attached to star.

He then compared the film to those from Marvel Studios, suggesting the project was aiming for depth rather than spectacle.

"The approach that Todd Phillips has taken is more of an origin story and a character study of a mentally ill person that becomes The Joker," he said. "It’s more of an intimate and gritty movie with a very specific scope. It’s going to be really interesting to see how it comes out."

Maron also briefly described his experience working with Phoenix, revealing that the actor had evidently remained in character the entire time.

"I didn’t really get to talk to him because he was pretty immersed in The Joker," he recalled. "I was just like, ‘I’m not gonna bother that guy’. That was fine. You just gotta respect people’s process."

Joker is a story about Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who turns into the psychotic supervillain known as The Joker. According to Warner Bros., the film will be an independent story and will not take place within the continuity of the DC Extended Universe. Several images have emerged, as well as footage from the set of the film, but no further details have been released.

Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Dante Pereira-Olson, Douglas Hodge and Josh Pais. The film arrives in theaters Oct. 4.