While Martin Scorsese has been busy talking about the comic book genre and the MCU, he’s yet to discuss a film he was set to produce and one that has taken over the box office and pop culture conversation, Joker. However, that has changed.In a video interview with BBC’s Sam Asi, Scorsese reveals his involvement in the production of the film for four years before dropping out.
When first details on the movie broke in August 2017, it was reported that Scorsese was attached to Joker as a producer and was potentially eyeing the director’s chair.
Some early reports also claimed that Warner Bros. wanted Scorsese involved so the film could land Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. Alas, the project was officially greenlit in July 2018 without Scorsese attached in any capacity. Scorsese commented,
I know the film very well,
“I know [director Todd Phillips] very well. My producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff produced it. I thought about it a lot over the last four years and decided I did not have the time for it. It was personal reasons why I didn’t get involved. But I know the script very well. It has a real energy and Joaquin. You have remarkable work.”
The “Joker” script finds a downtrodden clown-for-hire and failed stand-up comedian named Arthur Fleck transforming into the Joker super-villain after embracing violent acts and upending authority.
“For me, ultimately, I don’t know if I make the next step into this character developing into a comic book character,”
“You follow? He develops into an abstraction. It doesn’t mean it’s bad art, it’s just not for me…The superhero films, as I’ve said, are another art form. They are not easy to make. There’s a lot of very talented people doing good work and a lot of young people really, really enjoy them.”
