New Joker Movie Video Reveals Joaquin Phoenix's Clown Makeup

Joaquin Phoenix's debut image for the the standalone Joker movie from Warner Bros. wasn't quite what fans expect, instead showing a somewhat goofy, greasy-haired and haggard middle-aged man. A new screen test from Warner Bros. delivers a little closer to the classic clown prince of crime, though it's more "clown" than "criminal."

The brief screen test shows Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck standing casually as his stoic expression turns to a grin. At the very end, we see him in full clown makeup, though it's more of a classical circus clown style than a recognizable version of the iconic character.

This take on the Joker appears to delve deep into his origin story, though the official canon hasn't settled on a single interpretation. In some iterations he's been a failed stand-up comic or a similar sad sack, which appears to be the direction for Arthur Fleck. Still, Phoenix looks perfectly menacing when he starts to grin, thanks in no small part to some creepy mood lighting.

The Joker film will also star Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, and Frances Conroy. A separate Joker movie is in the works starring Jared Leto, who played the character in Suicide Squad. Joker is due out October 4, 2019.