Brett Cullen

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ actor Brett Cullen is headed back to Gotham City.  Cullen, who played a Congressman in the Christopher Nolan film, will play a figure much closer to the Bruce Wayne– his father Thomas, in Todd Phillips’ upcoming ‘Joker’Alec Baldwin had been attached to star in this role, but almost immediately backed out.  Rumor has it, Thomas Wayne may be (or at least suspected of being) the father of Joaquin Phoenix‘s Arthur Fleck, the man who will one day become the titular supervillain.  Frances Conroy plays Arthur’s mother Penny, who previously worked for Thomas Wayne and may have harbored a secret love for him.  But was it reciprocated?

‘Joker’ is now filming, due to hit theaters on October 4, 2019.  Phillips released a photo of Phoenix in the role, sporting long hair and that image, along with some leaked photos and videos, have not gone over well with the internet.

The film also stars Robert DeNiro as talk show host Murray Franklin, with Marc Maron playing one of his employees.  Zazie Beetz portrays single mother Sophie Dumond while Josh Pais will play Hoyt Vaughn, a hotel manager.

‘Joker’ will depict the descent of Phoenix’s Arthur as he descends into the murky Gotham underworld to become possibly the most famous comic book villain of all.

In addition to ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, Cullen starred in another superhero movie, 2007’s ‘Ghost Rider’, in which he played Barton Blaze, father to Nicolas Cage’s Johnny, who would become the titular vigilante.  Cullen will also be seen the futuristic new series ‘Big Dogs’ set in a New York where crime and corruption have taken over and society has collapsed into chaos.  Cullen’s career stretches all the way back to the early 1980s, with appearances on ‘The Incredible Hulk’, ‘Falcon Crest’ and the acclaimed miniseries ‘The Thorn Birds’ among many others.  More recently, he has starred on ‘Narcos’, ‘Queen of the South’, ‘Person of Interest’, ‘Devious Maids’, ‘Under the Dome’ and more.

‘Joker’ will be released on October 4, 2019.