DC’s Black Label imprint has been used as a vehicle for comic creators to tell more mature and experimental stories. And if Todd Phillips got his way, his Joker film would have been the first in a new line of DC films produced under this banner. While speaking with the IGN UK podcast (via ComicBook.com), Phillips explained his initial Joker pitch to Warner Bros. Apparently, he wanted other directors to step in and helm two similarly offbeat takes on different DC characters.
“I pitched it as three movies, Joker being the first with me, and then these two other movies, with two other directors,” said Phillips. “But I don’t really want to name them, because then it’ll become a thing and I’m pulling these directors into it when I’ve never even told them about it. It was just me telling Warner Bros. about it.”
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Right now, it seems like all everyone wants to talk about is whether Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix will return for a Joker sequel. However, more films made in a style akin to Phillips’ take on Batman’s greatest enemy would certainly be interesting. This actually isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Warner Bros. launching their own Black Label series of movies. The studio was reportedly enthusiastic about this venture when Joker was first greenlit. But earlier this year, Phillips made it sound like the studio was walking back these plans.
“I still think it’s a great idea,” Phillips continued. “But I’ll be honest with you, their argument – well, it wasn’t an argument – their thing is, there’s no reason to create its own label, there’s no reason to go to all that trouble. Just when we want to one of these kind of movies, we’ll do it, just like Joker is. I get that, but I also thought it was just kind of cool if it became a thing.”
Do you think Warner Bros. should move forward with their own line of DC Black Label films? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Joker (DC Black Label Edition)
