Warner Bros. is taking a cue from Star Wars and making an origin film for one of its most popular characters. In this case it’s not a hero’s journey though. The studio is in early development on a Batman spinoff about the Joker.

The movie is being directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover), who shares writing duties with Scott Silver (The Fighter). The legendary Martin Scorsese is rumored to produce.

This will be the first film under WB’s currently untitled new banner that expands DC properties with new storylines and actors. That’s a lot of studio talk for DC movies that aren’t in the DC Expanded Universe.

The idea for the Joker movie is that it will be a grounded crime movie in early 80s Gotham City, resembling Scorsese classics Taxi Driver or Raging Bull. As of right now, this will be a new story with no connection to any previous Batman movie.

Since it’s an origin story, the film will feature a new actor as a young Joker.

In the DCEU movies, Jared Leto is the Joker. He is set to appear in Suicide Squad 2 and Gotham City Sirens.

So what are your thoughts on a young Joker movie? More importantly who are you casting?

Source: Deadline