Following the likes of Jared Leto and Heath Ledger, Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix is set to become the next Joker on the big screen.

As reported by the BBC, the stand-alone film will explore the origins of Batman’s nemesis with filming beginning in September in New York.

Phoenix, who received international acclaim for his role as Johnny Cash in the biopic Walk the Line and Commodus in the 2000 film Gladiator, will bring his very own spin on this character, known for its green hair and ear-to-ear grin.

The following looks at other household name actors who have taken on the role of The Joker since its very first debut in Batman’s April 1940 comic.

Read also: Why foreigners play American superheroes and that's (mostly) fine

Cesar Romero

Romero portrayed The Joker in 22 episodes of a 1960s Batman TV series. He was also featured in the show’s spin-off.

To achieve the look of The Joker, Romero - known as the “Latin from Manhattan”, went through an hour-and-a-half process of putting make-up and several finishing touches. 

Despite this, Romero states he had “enormous fun” playing the role.

Jack Nicholson

“I considered it a piece of pop art,” said Nicholson of his role as the Joker to Esquire magazine in 2007.

Along with Michael Keaton acting as Batman, Nicholson played the role of The Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 film Batman.

Through his role as The Joker, Nicholson gained a new generation of fans for his now iconic lines, such as “Never rub another man’s rhubarb’ and “Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?”.

Heath Ledger

Ledger boldly reimagined the role of The Joker as a disturbing agent of chaos, with inspiration coming from the likes of Francis Bacon, and punk rocker Sid Vicious and Malcolm McDowell, 

Believing the character was open for a fresh interpretation, the late actor’s impressive portrayal of The Joker won him a posthumous Academy Award in 2009.

Jared Leto

Read also: Jared Leto met with real-life psychopaths to prepare for ‘Joker’ role

In 2016’s Suicide Squad, Jared Leto transformed into The Joker, modeled in part after the late David Bowie.

Despite his fairly minor role in the film, Leto’s performance captivated audiences worldwide.

Mark Hamill

Besides playing the role of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, Hamill voices The Joker in the Batman cartoon series and several other video games.

In an interview with Rolling Stone last year, Hamill told the magazine he voiced the character like it was the very first time he had done so. (anm/kes)

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