He may have played the iconic Green Goblin in Spiderman (2002), but comic book fans wanted Willem Dafoe wanted to play another iconic comic book villain, The Joker.
The American Psycho actor discussed the role on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, with Dafoe saying that he'd floated the idea last year and was surprised by fans' overwhelmingly postive reaction.
He thought admitted that would be ‘cool’, but sadly he wouldn’t be appearing in the DC’s extended universe any time soon.
Fans first went wild about Dafoe possibly playing the Joker, after he admitted to GQ Magazine that he’d love to play Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime.
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The role has been played some of Hollywood’s greatest actors including Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson and more recently Joaquin Phoenix in 2019’s Joker.
Unsurprisingly, Dafoe also found himself drawn to the character and even said he ‘fantasised’ about his version appearing alongside Phoenix’s during the 2022 interview.
"There is something interesting about, like, if there was a Joker imposter” He explained.
Continuing, he told the publication: “So it would be possible to have not duelling Jokers but someone that [claims] to be the Joker that isn't the Joker.”
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Even with his multiple Oscar nominations and incredible plot, The Lighthouse actor still didn’t feel confident enough to pitch the idea to Warner Brothers.
When asked about this on The Tonight Show, the Oscar nominated actor admitted that he’d never even approached the studio after his 2022 interview.
“I just mentioned it in an interview and then it went out on the internet” he told host Jimmy Fallon but did say that he’d though the idea would ‘be cool’.
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The audience seemed to agree as they immediately cheered at Dafoe’s idea, only for him to say that ‘we’re doing other things’.
However, you shouldn’t feel too bad for the veteran actor.
Since he first appeared in Spiderman back in 2002, the franchise has raked in over $9.8 billion (£8.1b) box office sales and the actor gaining a $40 million (£33m) payday as Peter Parker’s nemesis.
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He’s also appeared in DC Comic’s Aquaman as Vulko, although it’s unclear whether he will reprise his role in the sequel which will be out later this year.
Whilst we are gutted we won’t be seeing him as The Clown Prince Of Crime, we are so glad the actor has had so many iconic roles in various comic book franchises.
Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity, DC Comics
Katherine Sidnell