Comic book and superhero fans around the world are pumped after the trailer to Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” and photo previews of Joaquin Phoenix as DC Comics’ feared supervillain the Joker were released.
The long-awaited trailer for the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe “Captain Marvel” was released on Monday.
Brie Larson stars as Carol Danvers, a fighter pilot who is granted an array of powers after an encounter with an intergalactic force.
Jude Law also stars as Danvers’ mentor Mar-Vell, who was the original Captain Marvel in the comics. Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role as S.H.I.E.L.D’s Nick Fury.
“Captain Marvel” will be unique as it is set in the 1990s, decades before the current Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige in previous interviews said that the team only wanted to showcase a different chapter in the Marvel timeline and refused to divulge any more details, teasing that to do so would be a spoiler.
The Skrulls, one of the most notable villains in Marvel comics, are also set to finally make their onscreen debut after intellectual property issues prevented Marvel from using them in previous movies.
Those who prefer DC comics’ roster of heroes and villains also have something to celebrate.
A first look at Joaquin Phoenix as Batman’s nemesis The Joker was finally released around the same time the trailer to “Captain Marvel” dropped.
#ToddPhillips revealed the first photo of #JoaquinPhoenix as the Joker AKA Arthur. pic.twitter.com/Bk9cPJvu7l
— IMDb (@IMDb) September 16, 2018
Pictures and video clips of Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, the man who will later become the “Crown Prince of Crime,” have been published by various Hollywood news outlets.
Joaquin Phoenix on the set of "Joker". pic.twitter.com/eED3J6wzyi
— ? (@quotingfiIms) September 16, 2018
“Joker” will tackle the origin of Batman’s archenemy, who was never given a definite origin story or true identity in comic book canon.
There have been reports however that the new Joker movie will borrow elements of the 1988 stand-alone graphic novel “Batman: The Killing Joke” by Alan Moore, such as the Joker previously being a failed comedian with a traumatic past.
Jared Leto played The Joker in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” but both the movie and Leto’s performance were critically-panned.
Fans are excited for the two coming flicks.
Captain Marvel Trailer <333
— Perth ❤ (@TearsOfWill) September 18, 2018
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker ??? I love it!! Plus the real name of the joker is Arthur (but only in the movie) ??
— Patrick Gelido (@pgelido) September 18, 2018
“Captain Marvel” will premiere in March 2019 while “Joker”, which is still in shooting, is expected to premiere in October 2019.
2019 is expected to be the biggest year for comic book movies ever since the genre gained massive popularity in the last decade. Other Marvel movies expected to premiere that year are “Avengers 4” and “Spider-Man: Far from Home.”
The X-men franchise, the rights to which are owned by 20th Century Fox, are also set to release new additions to their universe: “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” and “New Mutants.”
DC Films on the one hand also has “Shazam” and “Wonder Woman 1984” lined up for 2019.