Justin Theroux almost shared the role of the Joker with Joaquin Phoenix, to an extent.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” director Todd Phillips revealed to IGN that Theroux came close to reprising his role as actor Ethan Chase in the sequel film. Theroux’s Chase briefly appeared in the 2019 “Joker” as a guest on Murray Franklin’s (Robert De Niro) talk show.
According to Phillips, Theroux’s Chase was originally set to portray Arthur Fleck AKA the Joker (Phoenix) in the made-for-TV true crime movie based on the Joker murdering host Franklin. The movie was referenced frequently by Fleck’s love interest Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) as birthing her obsession with the Joker.
When asked who would play the Joker in the made-for-TV movie, Phillips explained that Theroux was first approached.
“Well, Justin Theroux of course,” Phillips said. “In fact, I talked to Justin about it. We were going to shoot a trailer at one point. We just ran out of time.”
He added, “Yes, ‘Ethan Chase,’ the actor from the first movie.”
Instead, Theroux can be seen in the other, more lucrative Warner Bros. sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Theroux told Total Film that Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was “not made by taking polls from audiences and studio notes.”
“This movie takes some very big swings,” Theroux said, a sentiment which could also easily be applied to “Joker: Folie à Deux.”
Theroux continued, “There’s the phantasmagoria and it feels slightly out of control and unhinged. It has that vibe to it. It’s clear this movie was not made by taking polls from audiences, and studio notes, and executives going, ‘Well, what’s the most satisfying act three?’ This is 100 percent like someone opening the front of Tim Burton’s head, and letting it dump out onto the screen. It’s a fabulous ride for exactly that reason.”
To note, Burton also first brought the live-action “Batman” to the big screen with “Beetlejuice” star Michael Keaton in the lead role.
Perhaps Theroux could be back in Gotham if there is a “Joker 3,” or “Joker: Folie à Trois” as it were. All we know is that Phillips would be sitting this one out, as the director told The Hollywood Reporter, “I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.”
