Darren Aronofsky’s Batman movie fell apart back in the 2000s because the studio refused to let him cast Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role.
The 51-year-old director discussed his ill-fated superhero flick in a new interview with Empire where he recalls how Warner Bros. resisted his vision for the Caped Crusader which ultimately led to his version of the film being shelved.
Nearly a decade later, Phoenix would go on to win the Oscar for his portrayal of Batman’s nemesis, the Joker, in the gritty eponymous film.
What could have been: Darren Aronofsky said that his Batman movie fell apart back in the 2000s because the studio refused to let him cast Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role during an interview with Empire
Aronofsky told the magazine that his adaptation of the DC Comics legend simply didn’t line up with what the studio wanted which led to Warner Bros. dispensing with the whole project.
‘The studio wanted Freddie Prinze Jr. and I wanted Joaquin Phoenix,’ he said. ‘I remember thinking, ‘Uh oh, we’re making two different films here.”
Adding: ‘That’s a true story. It was a different time. The Batman I wrote was definitely a way different type of take than they ended up making.’
At the time, Phoenix had been rising to stardom, starring in films like Gladiator, while Prinze Jr. was a teen-icon with high school classics like She’s All That.
‘The studio wanted Freddie Prinze Jr. and I wanted Joaquin Phoenix,’ Aronofsky said. ‘I remember thinking, ‘Uh oh, we’re making two different films here.” (Pictured in 2019)
No joke! Nearly a decade later, Phoenix would go on to win the Oscar for his portrayal of Batman’s nemesis, the Joker, in the gritty eponymous film
Darren’s Batman was written to be darker than the previous George Clooney version and, according to Empire, almost villain-like.
‘The Batman that was out before me was Batman & Robin, the famous one with the nipples on the Batsuit, so I was really trying to undermine that, and reinvent it. That’s where my head went,’ he said.
After not seeing eye-to-eye with casting the most important role in the film, the studio moved on and eventually tapped Christopher Nolan to helm the next Batman flick.
Too clean cut: Darren’s Batman was written to be darker than the previous George Clooney version and, according to Empire, almost villain-like but by floating Freddie Prinze Jr. for the role, Warner Bros. wanted something less gritty
‘The Batman that was out before me was Batman & Robin, the famous one with the nipples on the Batsuit, so I was really trying to undermine that, and reinvent it. That’s where my head went,’ he said (Clooney pictured)
Nolan ended up going with Christian Bale (and his unforgettable raspy voice) as Bruce Wayne/Batman for 2005’s Batman Begins.
The latest iteration of the character will be played by another Brit, Robert Pattinson, in the upcoming film The Batman, expected out in 2021.
As for Joaquin Phoenix, it seemed that Aronofsky saw the same ability to turn inward to the dark side as director Todd Phillips who ended up placing him in the title role of Joker.
Moving on: After not seeing eye-to-eye with casting the most important role in the film, the studio moved on and eventually tapped Christopher Nolan to helm the next Batman flick
To the Batcave: The latest iteration of the character will be played by another Brit, Robert Pattinson, in the upcoming film The Batman, expected out in 2021
Phoenix’s portrayal of deeply disturbed Arthur Fleck in the villiain-centric film earned him hoards of accolades from viewers and critics alike in 2019.
The film grossed a billion dollars and Joaquin swept awards season winning an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, and Critics Choice Award for the role.
A sequel to Joker is currently in the works by Todd Philips but in very early stages.
Award winner: Phoenix’s portrayal of deeply disturbed Arthur Fleck in the villiain-centric film Joker earned him hoards of accolades from viewers and critics alike in 2019