There was a lot of tension on the Joker's set. Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro approach their work differently
Just like the characters they played, the two actors starring in Joker from 2019 didn't like each other on the set. At least at the beginning of the work. The director had to intervene.
The professionalism of top actors is often reflected in the fact that, while they may be harsh towards their colleagues on the set, they don't let it show in front of the cameras. This was the case with Joaquin Phoenix and Robert de Niro in Joker directed by Todd Phillips, where they played the leading roles. Work on the profitable production, for which Phoenix won an Oscar, didn't exactly go smoothly due to the different approaches of both actors.
According to Vanity Fair, before the first day of shooting Joker, Robert De Niro expressed his willingness to read a fragment of the script with the rest of the cast. This wasn't an exception, as it is standard procedure for him to follow when preparing to perform in front of the camera.
Since Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the titular role, prefers exactly the opposite approach and believes that the best roles are those that are partially improvised, the director of the film faced a big dilemma. Phillips didn't want to favor the methods of any of the actors and began looking for a compromise.
Ultimately, Phoenix remained indifferent to Robert De Niro's proposal and didn't intend to visit his office in Manhattan. He was convinced to change his attitude by Todd Phillips, who - left with no option - had to act.
Joaquin Phoenix finally agreed to a rehearsal with De Niro, but according to Phillips, his Joker simply mumbled and didn't pay attention to what he was reading, which won him the resentment of Robert De Niro, leading to a tense atmosphere on set.
I didn’t like to talk to him on set. The first day we said good morning, and beyond that I don’t know that we talked much. - recalls Joaquin Phoenix.
This forced Todd Phillips to intervene once again. The director asked Phoenix to come to terms with De Niro. Phoenix reluctantly agreed to another meeting, where he buried the hatchet with Robert De Niro, although later on the set, they rarely spoke to each other. However, this wasn't the result of a previous disagreement. Together, the actors assured that it was normal for them to focus on work on the set and not on socializing between shots.
His character and my character, we didn’t need to talk about anything. We just say, ‘Do the work. Relate as the characters to each other.’ It makes it simpler and we don’t [talk]. There’s no reason to. - described Robert De Niro.
In the end, Joker was a huge success. With a budget of $55 million, the film grossed nearly $1.1 billion worldwide, and the sequel, which is currently being shot, will hit theaters in fall 2024.
RELATED TOPICS: drama (movies) cinema DCEU / DC Extended Universe trivia Robert De Niro Joker: Folie a Deux
Mateusz Libera
He began his writing adventure by creating stories, later he followed the humanities path, choosing studies in journalism and social communication. He published his first texts on his personal blog and for contests. At the beginning of 2023, he joined the film department of GRYOnline.pl, where he started working as an author of articles about movies. He is interested in fantasy, history, RPG games, and strategies. He is also a long-time player of League of Legends - he has been playing since the second season. Additionally, he writes adventure and fantasy books, but in this field he is still a novice. Currently, he has published one collection of stories.
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