New DC series about Joker starring Barry Keoghan said to be in development at Max

Update: James Gunn has since debunked the news, “there is absolutely no truth to this” he wrote in a post shared to his Threads account.

A new series starring Barry Keoghan as the Joker is said to be in the works at Max.

This news comes after Keoghan’s brief but memorable appearance in The Batman (2022), in which he was seen as an inmate at Arkham Asylum, hinting at bigger things to come.

According to the latest scoop from the Marvelvision podcast, Warner Bros. is actively developing a new Joker spinoff series.

It’s expected to act as a bridge between The Batman Part II and The Batman Part III, following a structure similar to The Penguin series, which has been well-received and focuses on Colin Farrell’s character.

Barry Keoghan made a brief appearance in The Batman (2022) as a character who shares a scene with Paul Dano’s Riddler in Arkham Asylum. Although his character isn’t officially named, it’s clear from the interaction that he is the Joker.

The plan appears to be building Keoghan’s Joker as Batman’s ultimate adversary for the final film in Matt Reeves’ trilogy, much like The Penguin series is paving the way for Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobblepot to have a major role in the second film.

Director Matt Reeves has mentioned his interest in more villain-focused stories within the Batman universe, and this new series could be a way to explore Gotham’s darker side even further. 

With The Penguin series doing well, it’s unsurprising that Warner Bros. wants to keep pushing character-driven stories.

The announcement follows mixed financial results from Joker: Folie à Deux, which reportedly lost Warner Bros. between $125 million and $200 million.

Shifting to Keoghan’s fresh take on the Joker seems like a way to breathe new life into the character and build excitement among fans.

The Batman Part II is set to begin filming in early 2025 with Matt Reeves directing and Robert Pattinson back as Batman. 

Returning cast members also include Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, and Andy Serkis as Alfred. 

Colin Farrell returns as the Penguin, while Paul Dano’s Riddler may also reappear, possibly linked to the Joker storyline.

The new Joker spin-off series has not been officially announced yet.

Featured image credit: Instagram/bobby_art / Warner Bros.