Comic Book Movies
Joaquin Phoenix: “It is its own world in some ways, and maybe, mostly, it scares the f*cking sh*t out of me or something”
Joaquin Phoenix is finally opening up about taking on one of the most iconic super villains of all time. Up until this week Phoenix had been fairly coy about rumors of him stepping into the character. Warner Bros officially announced that they would be producing a separate Joker Origin film, which would be a lower budget character driven crime drama film, focusing on a man who is “disregarded by society.” The movie is said to be a cautionary tale.
Phoenix recently opened up, and spoke about how he landed the role and his process in moving forward to make the film great:
“I take a lot of time and consideration when making decisions and what I’m gonna work on always. So, in some ways, the process, which is obviously reading a script and meeting a filmmaker and then continuing to have meetings and discussions with Todd (Phillips). I think he’s very impressive and he seems to have a very interesting understanding of this world and what he’s trying to say. And so there is something very appealing about that and working with him on this particular project. It feels unique, it is its own world in some ways, and maybe, mostly, it scares the f*cking sh*t out of me or something. It might as well be the thing that scares you the most.”
Phoenix was also asked if he had seen fan response to his casting and if he felt doubled pressure from what the studio was looking for in the character:
“It’s a magnified version of what you deal with as an actor. So, when you get a script, obviously, the writer- usually for me, it’s the writer/director, last several years I’ve worked with a filmmaker that was the writer and director- and they have their expectation, and they’ve imagined things in their head, and they’ve imagined different actors, and suddenly you take it on and so there’s this moment of anxiety of Did I live up to their expectations? And at some point you have to just own it and say like, I can’t consider who they might have thought up before or what the movie was for the 6 months ago, this is what it is now and I have to find my way into it. And so in some ways it’s a very similar experience, right? But it feels magnified because it’s not just one person’s expectations, but what you’re telling me is that there’s at least a dozen.”
When asked what type of project the Joker movie would be, Phoenix said that you couldn’t quite classify it:
“I wouldn’t quite classify this as like any genre. I wouldn’t say it’s a superhero movie, or a studio movie or a… It feels unique, and I think more than anything, and probably the most important thing, is Todd seems very passionate about it and very giving, and so that’s exciting. I think, underneath the excitement of these films, and the size of them, there are these incredible characters that are dealing with real life struggles. And sometimes that is uncovered and exposed, and sometimes it isn’t, and so I always felt, like, there were characters in comics that were really interesting and deserve the opportunity to be kind of studied. And so I think that’s what Todd sees appealing about this idea.”
Phoenix even went on further to hint that he had actually had an idea to do a project similar to this one. He wanted to make a lower budget character study of a comic villain:
“Three or four years ago, I called my agent and said Why don’t they want to take one of these characters and just make a lower budget film about it, a movie but a character study, and why not take one of the villains? And I thought, You can’t do the Joker, because, you know, it’s just you can’t do that character, it’s just been done. So I was trying to think of other characters, and he said I’ll set up a general meeting with Warner Bros. And I said I’m not gonna go, I can’t go to a general meeting. So I completely forgot about it, and so then I heard about this idea, I was like, Oh that’s so exciting, that’s the kind of experience I wanted to have, with a movie based on a comic character. I felt like you could get something on screen.”
Stay tuned for more news to come, as this project ramps up. I sound like Phoenix and Director Todd Phillips are heading in the right direction and both have a clear picture as to how they want the film to unfold.
Samuel L. Jackson has revealed when fans can expect to see Nick Fury back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it won’t be in Avengers: Doomsday.
Jackson recently spoke with The Direct while attending the premiere of his new film The Beast. When asked when audiences would see him return as Nick Fury, Jackson indicated that his comeback will happen in the Avengers movie following Doomsday.
“Next movie… [The] movie after this one.”
Jackson said.
When asked whether he could reveal anything about the upcoming film, Jackson admitted that Marvel Studios hasn’t given him much information.
“I have no idea. [Marvel] hasn’t told me anything, other than, ‘You’re not gonna be in this movie. You’ll be in the next.’”
While Jackson didn’t specifically name Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel’s current slate makes the implication clear. Avengers: Doomsday is the next Avengers installment, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars.
[marvel studios]
Jackson has been one of the MCU’s longest-running stars. Nick Fury first appeared during the post-credits scene of 2008’s Iron Man, approaching Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative and helping set the foundation for what would eventually become the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Fury went on to become an important connective figure throughout the Infinity Saga, appearing alongside the Avengers and playing major roles in films including The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultronand Captain Marvel.
Jackson most recently played Fury in 2023, starring in the Disney+ series Secret Invasion before appearing in The Marvels.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury [marvel studios]
With Secret Wars expected to serve as the culmination of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga, however, bringing back the man who helped assemble the original Avengers would give one of the MCU’s longest-running characters a place in another major chapter of the franchise.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars currently scheduled for December 17, 2027.
Comic Book Movies
Christopher Abbott Says He Hasn’t Read the X-Men Script Yet but ‘Can’t Wait’ to Play Professor X
Christopher Abbott may already be Marvel Studios’ new Professor Charles Xavier, but the actor says he still knows surprisingly little about what awaits him in the MCU’s upcoming X-Men movie.
Abbott was officially announced as Professor X earlier this year, taking over one of the franchise’s most iconic roles following previous live-action portrayals by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy. Despite already landing the part, Abbott revealed that he has yet to read the screenplay for the highly anticipated reboot.
“I haven’t read anything yet. Nothing,”
Abbott said while discussing the film. “I’m not even being coy. It’s true, I haven’t read anything.”
While Marvel is apparently keeping details close to the vest, Abbott made it clear that he is excited about joining the project and working with director Jake Schreier.
“But I’m excited to work with Jake Schreier, I think he’s a great director and that cast is really, really good,” Abbott continued. “I can’t wait, I love the X-Men.”
Charles Xavier [Image credit: Marvel Comics]
That could provide an interesting indication of how Marvel Studios and Schreier are approaching Professor X. Charles Xavier possesses one of the most powerful mutant abilities in the Marvel universe, but some of the character’s most memorable stories have centered on his complicated relationships with his students, fellow mutants and longtime friend and ideological rival Magneto.
Abbott’s comments also suggest that Marvel is still keeping major story details away from at least some members of the cast. With the movie not scheduled to arrive until 2028, there is still plenty of time before cameras begin rolling.
The upcoming X-Men movie will introduce Marvel Studios’ primary version of the mutant team following years of individual mutants and characters from Fox’s X-Men universe appearing throughout the MCU.
Marvel’s X-Men Cast [D23]
For Abbott, the opportunity also marks another chance to enter the Marvel universe after appearing as The Foreigner in 2024’s Kraven the Hunter. This time, however, he’ll be stepping into a considerably larger role as the leader and founder most closely associated with the X-Men.
And even without seeing the script yet, Abbott already sounds ready to get started.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I love the X-Men.”
Comic Book Movies
Anthony Mackie Reveals Avengers: Secret Wars Will Still Be Filming Months Before Release
Marvel Studios may be facing a tight turnaround to complete Avengers: Secret Wars ahead of its scheduled December 2027 release.
Anthony Mackie, who plays Sam Wilson/Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently revealed that he expects to return to work on Secret Wars after completing his upcoming Broadway run in Macbeth.
Mackie is set to star in the Broadway production beginning in 2027, with the run expected to keep him occupied through July. Speaking about what comes next, Mackie confirmed that Avengers work will be waiting for him once the production concludes.
“So once I finish on Broadway, I’ll go to finish up all the Avengers stuff for Secret Wars,” Mackie said.
The comment is particularly interesting considering Avengers: Secret Wars is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 17, 2027. If Mackie is still completing work on the film after July, Marvel could have roughly five months between his return and the movie’s theatrical release.
Anthony Mackie [Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images]
Still, the timing adds to questions surrounding just how ambitious Marvel’s schedule for Secret Wars has become.
Reports have previously suggested that principal photography may not begin until early 2027. The Russo Brothers have also spent much of 2026 completing Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026.
Secret Wars will follow just one year later and is expected to serve as the culmination of Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga. A movie of that scale will likely require extensive visual effects and post-production work, making the increasingly compressed production timeline notable.
For comparison, Avengers: Doomsday completed principal photography more than a year before its scheduled theatrical release, although additional photography continued afterward.
There has already been speculation that Secret Wars could eventually move from its December 2027 release date, but Marvel Studios has not announced a delay. For now, December 17, 2027 remains the official date.
Mackie’s comments don’t confirm that a delay is coming, but they do provide a clearer picture of how late work on one of Marvel’s biggest movies could continue.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
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