‘Joker’ Cast Adds Brett Cullen As Thomas Wayne, Replacing Alec Baldwin
The standaloneJokermovie has found its Thomas Wayne.Brett Cullen, a character actor who already has someBatmanhistory, will play Bruce Wayne’s father in theTodd Phillipsfilm starringJoaquin Phoenix. Cullen replacesAlec Baldwin, who was first announced in the role only to immediately drop out. More on theJokercast below.
ComicBook.com(with back-up fromThe Wrap)is reporting Cullen’s casting as Batman’s doomed dad, Thomas Wayne. As you’ll no doubt remember, Alec Baldwin was the previous occupant of this part, but less than 48 hours after the announcement, Baldwin himselfrevealedhe wouldn’t be playing Thomas Wayne after all. “I’m no longer doing that movie,” Baldwin said, citing scheduling issues. “I’m sure there are 25 guys who can play that part,” the actor added.
One of those 25 guys turned out to be Brett Cullen, who has already appeared in aBatman-centric film before: he played a Congressman in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight Rises. Cullen also portrayed another superhero dad once: he was Barton Blaze, Johnny Blaze’s father, in the Nicolas CageGhost Ridermovie.
TheJokermovie is currently filming, and we just recently got our firstofficial (sans-make-up) lookat Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. Specific details about the film are under-wraps, but rumor has it Phoenix will be playing a failed comedian before becoming the Clown Prince of Crime – an origin previously revealed in Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s iconic, oft-referenced graphic novelBatman: The Killing Joke. The film has also been described as a “gritty character study” influenced by Martin Scorsese’sThe King of Comedy.
Just what part Thomas Wayne has to play in this story remains to be seen, but previous rumors indicated the character would be interpreted as a Donald Trump-like figure in the film. In the comics, Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha were gunned down in Crime Alley (great name!) before the eyes of their son, Bruce. Their murder would inspire Bruce to grow up and become Batman. You’re probably familiar with this, since it’s an origin story that has been retold on screen many, many times.
In addition to Phoenix and Cullen, theJokerstandalone film also starsRobert De Niro,Zazie Beetz,Marc MaronandFrances Conroy. This entire project remains a bit baffling, and yet, this cast is too good to ignore. I remain unconvinced a soloJokerfilm can work, but I’ll be happy to be proved wrong. The still untitledJokermovie laughs its way into theatersOctober 4, 2019.
