The Batman could be linked to the Joker prequel

As plans for the Martin Scorsese-produced Joker prequel continue rolling – now with some possible added De Niro – it’s emerged that it might not be standing completely alone.

Word has it that it could actually link up in some way to Matt Reeves’ The Batman in a strand that would sit separately to the current DC Extended Universe movies.

This is according to The Superhero News Show (via ScreenRant), co-hosted by Forbes writer Mark Hughes, who appears to have been chatting to folk on the inside of the gestating projects.

“I haven’t heard anything firm, but I’ve heard certainly whispers from several people that I’ve talked to about that project,” he said.

“And what it sounds like is that if that project takes shape, if Martin Scorsese is going to be on board producing a film with Joaquin Phoenix playing the Joker… so now it looks like there’s going to be that project and I have heard from a few people that there is talk of if [The Joker] movie is really going to go forward and if its really that good, if we’re rebooting Batman anyway, he’s going to need a Joker.”

This would certainly make sense, the only potential issue being that if they’re any good, they stand a good chance of completely upstaging the movies in the DCEU.

So far, movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League and Suicide Squad have simply failed to create the kind of voracious fandom seen for the Marvel movies at Disney (not to mention the billions of dollars the Avengers et al have brought in).

It’s thought that the Batman movie and the Joker prequel, which is said to be starring Phoenix in the lead, could make up part of a separate strand rumoured to be called either DC Dark or DC Black.

The Joker movie could start filming as soon as September, according to reports, so casting confirmation is hopefully on its way soon.

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