James Gunn Denies ‘Joker’ Series With Barry Keoghan Is In Development: “Absolutely No Truth To This”
James Gunn is shutting down rumors that a Joker series starring Barry Keoghan is in the works.
The DC Studios co-head took to social media to debunk rumors of a spinoff series based on Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
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“Turn on threads and everyone is asking me about this. No there is absolutely no truth to this. A Joker series is not being discussed nor has even come up at this time,” Gunn shared on Threads.
Keoghan made a brief cameo as The Joker at the end of 2022’s The Batman. Later, a deleted scene showcasing the actor’s work was made available, where Keoghan shares the screen with Robert Pattinson.
In 2022, Keoghan opened up about how he landed the role of The Joker in the Matt Reeves-directed movie after initially sending an unsolicited audition video as The Riddler.
“I wanted to be Riddler,” Keoghan told GQ UK.
However, when Keoghan met the producer Dylan Clark, he advised him that Jonah Hill had already taken the role at that point, which would later go to Paul Dano. Four months went by, and he got a call from his agent telling him, “The Batman wants you to play the Joker — but you cannot tell anyone.”
Keoghan said that his Joker was “a bit charming and a bit hurt” and a “broken-down boy,” adding, “I wanted some sort of human in there behind the makeup. I want people to relate to him…[to know] this is a fa?ade he puts on.”
The Saltburn actor added that he’s ready to get back into the villain role “as soon as that call comes.”
Rumors about a Joker-focused series come after the HBO series The Penguin, which stars Colin Farrell and chronicles the rise to power of the Gotham-based villain. The series is a sequel to 2022’s The Batman and will set up The Batman II.
Watch Keoghan as The Joker in the video below.
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