![Joker: Joaquin Phoenix lost over 20 kilos for his role in Todd Phillips' new movie [PHOTOS].](http://img.depor.com/files/article_main/uploads/2019/08/30/5d695c5834791.jpeg)
Warner Bros. and DC recently released an unprecedented trailer for "Joker", the new adaptation by Todd Phillips about one of DC Comics' most popular criminal minds. Joaquin Phoenix will have the lead role, and fans have noticed a dramatic transformation he underwent to get into character.
Since the beginning of production, "Joker" has become a topic of conversation due to the different actors who have brought the character to life on the big screen. Many still consider Heath Ledger the best interpreter of the clown in cinema, but some fans have pointed out that this thinking might soon change.
And when it was announced that Joaquin Phoenix would embody the legendary "Joker", specialists predicted that his performance would be memorable. The latest trailers have demonstrated that this indeed happened, positioning him as a strong contender (once again) for next year's Oscars.
But the road hasn't been easy. Preparing as an actor for such a demanding role as "Joker" requires great mental and physical capacity. In fact, it was recently revealed that Phoenix had to lose over 20 kilograms to portray the character.
In an interview with Los Angeles Times, director Todd Phillips explained that Joaquin Phoenix lost a total of 52 pounds before filming "Joker". The actor himself confessed that one of the main reasons he decided to accept the role was because they constructed this character as something complex, far from the stereotype of the 'animated villain'.
"There are some areas of the character that honestly still aren't clear to me, but I agree with that. There is a certain pleasure in not having to answer many of those questions. It requires a bit of audience participation which feels different," confessed the actor.
Joaquin Phoenix also mentions that he has tried to deliver a unique and honest portrayal, and that apparently he doesn't care about the comparisons others make with actors who brought the character to life before.
Definitely, losing 25 kilograms to become thin enough to play a role is a testament to how committed he has been to the filming. Now we just have to wait for the premiere to discover how loyal or different this "Joker" looks and the audience's reaction.
"Joker" tells an original story of the origins of the criminal clown, based on some elements from the comics but not tied to any specific one. This time, Arthur Fleck will be the character taking this journey to madness, going from being a clown with deep depression to becoming a criminal genius of Gotham.
