Joaquin Phoenix smiles through his first Joker teaser

The clown who wrestles Batman is back in another incongruously straight-faced interpretation. Have a look with the first teaser trailer for Joker.

Directed by Todd Phillips, the film is Warner Bros.’ first (intentional) superhero one-off, another origin story to shuffle into our ever-growing deck of Jokers. Joaquin Phoenix, looking harrowingly gaunt and slump-shouldered, takes on the title role. Now Joker begins as a promotional clown, until a series of unfortunate run-ins with jerks drives him into being a bad-boy clown who totally smokes.

This Batman-free Joker à la carte hits theaters October 4.

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