First look at Joaquin Phoenix's Joker for origin movie

Film promises to be an 'exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale'

(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images)

A first look at the upcoming Joker film has revealed Joaquin Phoenix's surprising take on the iconic DC villain.

Director Todd Phillips previously revealed that Phoenix's Joker – named Arthur – will be noticeably different to the comic book version fans are familiar with. The film promises to be an “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale”.

Plot details remain thin on the ground, but the standalone film will reportedly take place in the fictional Gotham City during the 1980s, and may see Phoenix's Arthur start off as a struggling comedian – a nod to King of Comedy, which was directed by Joker producer Martin Scorsese.

Joker has a budget of $55 million, which is significantly less than Warner Bros' other comic-book adaptations. The lowest budget recent DC movie is Wonder Woman, at $149 million, while the highest was 2017's Justice League, which had a budget of $300 million.

Despite the lesser budget, the film still boasts an impressive cast, with Phoenix set to be joined by Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Marc Maron.

Joker will be released in cinemas 4 October 2019