Filmmaker Kevin Smith has detailed a much darker alternative ending for DC's Joker, which would have meant curtains for pretty much the entire Batman universe.
In director Todd Phillips' theatrical cut of the movie, we see an Arthur Fleck/Joker acolyte follow Thomas and Martha Wayne down an alley and kill them in cold blood – a version that plays into Batman's canonical comic book storyline.
However, speaking on his Fatman Beyond podcast recently, Smith let slip that according to a source who was close to the film, the original script called for Joaquin Phoenix's manic clown to have closer ties to those murders, in a way that would have snuffed out Gotham's caped crusader before he even donned his Batsuit.
"Originally, the ending in the hospital was different," Smith said. "He's in the hospital and he laughs, chuckles, and he says, 'I was just thinking of something funny.'
"What was supposed to happen was you flashed back to the death or Thomas and Martha Wayne and it was him killing Thomas and Martha Wayne and the boy was screaming and crying and he turned to walk away and he turned back, shrugged, and shot the kid. Credits."
Smith concluded: "What the f**k, man? This world has no Batman."
We're glad this version of the script was ultimately changed, as of course we're far too invested in the potential of a Robert Pattinson/The Batman crossover.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
