Chukwudi Iwuji eyes Joker role in James Gunn’s DCU casting. [Image Source: COMICBOOK]
The Joker remains one of the most compelling characters in live-action cinema, known as Gotham’s infamous clown prince of crime and Batman’s most notorious adversary. After Heath Ledger’s groundbreaking portrayal in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, which earned him a posthumous Oscar, Joaquin Phoenix delivered another unforgettable take on the character with his critically acclaimed role in 2019’s Joker. Now, fans eagerly await the announcement of the Joker casting in James Gunn’s DCU, with one MCU villain expressing a strong desire to take on the role. Chukwudi Iwuji, who played the ruthless High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, recently shared his thoughts on the character and his potential involvement in the DC Universe.
In a conversation with The Movie Dweeb, Iwuji highlighted the complex nature of the Joker, describing the character as inherently maniacal but with a wide range of interpretations. Referring to Heath Ledger’s portrayal, he revealed,
“There has to be something maniacal about the Joker, right? But ‘maniacal’ has such a huge range,”
Chukwudi Iwuji said. He also reflected on what moved him the most about Ledger’s Joker:
“moved me most was when you realize that he keeps making up a story about his father each time.”
Delving deeper into this aspect of the Joker’s psychology, Iwuji added,
“And when I asked myself, ‘Well, why would you do that?’ Again, that loneliness and that he’s covering up with this flamboyant thing, but he keeps making up a story about his father.”
He emphasized his desire to bring a grounded and relatable dimension to the character.
Image of: James Gunn
“I just feel there’s so much richness about sadness with the Joker. And when you’re so laser-focused on your inner turmoil, the things you could do to other people without even it counting is very scary,”
he explained.
Iwuji’s commanding presence as a villain was evident in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, where his performance as the High Evolutionary provoked strong reactions from audiences, enhancing the impact of the heroes’ victory. However, it remains uncertain what role, if any, he might land within James Gunn’s new DC Universe. The Joker casting in James Gunn’s DCU is still highly anticipated, and Iwuji’s enthusiasm suggests he could be a serious contender.
Current Status of Joker’s Role in the DC Universe
Meanwhile, another much-discussed version of the Joker is Barry Keoghan’s portrayal in Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise. This Marvel Cinematic Universe-adjacent Elseworlds storyline sits apart from Gunn’s vision but continues to captivate fans with its darker and grittier tone. Keoghan’s Joker was introduced in a deleted scene of The Batman, where he shared a tense moment with Paul Dano’s Riddler inside Arkham Asylum. Since that glimpse, fans have eagerly awaited more appearances from Keoghan’s iteration, though the extent of his involvement in The Batman II has yet to be revealed.
In the meantime, audiences can revisit the iconic Joker performances by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker, both available for streaming. Iwuji’s reflections offer a fresh perspective on how the character’s layered tragedy and chaos might be explored in the future of the DC Universe under James Gunn’s direction.
