Late night: Five guests to get excited for this week – Sept. 30, 2019
By Matt Moore
Joaquin Phoenix on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The star of one of the most anticipated movies of the year comes to Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week. Joker‘s Joaquin Phoenix will be on the show Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Joker will offer an origin story for the icon Batman villain in a way that has no real canonical basis. Director Todd Phillips has taken a big leap in turning the comic book movie genre on its head. The low-budget character study is a departure from other DC and Marvel movies meant to spawn franchises and sell toys.
The reason that Phillips’s idea was approved and why it’s gained so much praise is due in large part to Joaquin Phoenix. The Oscar-nominated actor has turned down superhero and comic book movies that would require multi-picture contracts. With Joker, Phoenix gets a one-off film that is unique while also having a built-in audience with comic book fans.
Phoenix is always an interesting interview whether it is on late night or not. There has been plenty made about Joker already and what kind of impact it can have on audiences. Like Phillips, Phoenix has challenged the idea that the movie presents a safety risk. Kimmel is unlikely to press the issue and instead is more likely to praise Phoenix’s performance like everyone else has so far.