Martin Scorsese Calls Joker “A Remarkable Work” And Reveals He Was Asked To Direct It

Martin Scorsese’s been talking about comic book movies again, and in particular Todd Phillips’ Joker, but don’t worry, it’s not all bad.

The director was talking to BBC about The Irishman and the interviewer then sneakily asked him whether he considered Phillips’ Joker movie to be more like a theme park ride, and Scorsese’s answer was actually rather interesting.

He started out by revealing that Phillips had offered the script to him to direct the movie, yet he ended up turning it down.

“I decided that I didn’t have the time for it. Todd told me, ‘Marty, this is yours,’ and [I said], ‘I don’t know if I want to.’ For personal reasons, I didn’t want to get involved, but I know the script very well.”

Martin Scorsese was asked to direct Joker

Read more: Joker Review

Martin Scorsese had been attached to Joker as an Executive Producer for quite some time and revealed he “thought about it a lot over the past four years”.

However, he decided not to pass on the project because he didn’t have the time and didn’t want to direct a movie in which the main character develops “into a comic-book character.”

Yet, the legendary director then went on to call Todd Phillips’ Joker “a remarkable work” and praised Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in the movie.

Scorsese then explained why he decided to turn down Phillips’ offer to work on the picture, explaining that he couldn’t do the film because the “next step, which is… this character developing into a comic-book character. He develops into an abstraction. That doesn’t mean it’s bad art. It could be, but it’s not for me, you follow?”

Explaining Martin Scorsese’s comic book movie comments

Martin Scorsese opens up on Joker (Credit: BBC)

Read more: Is Joker A ‘Dangerous’ Movie? We Don’t Think So

The Irishman director then expanded upon his previous comments in which he claimed that superhero movies were not ‘cinema’, and referred to them as “another art form”.

He then added: “They’re not easy to make. There are a lot of very talented people doing good work, and a lot of young people really, really enjoy them. But I do think it’s more of…an extension of the amusement park.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Martin Scorsese has been saying over the past few weeks, and I don’t think it’s anywhere close to Francis Ford Coppola claiming that comic book movies are “despicable”.

What he said was simply put, ludicrous. No, what Scorsese’s been saying is that comic book movies live in their own unique space, which is apart from the type of films that he’s been making, and I get that.

Martin Scorsese didn’t call Marvel movies “despicable”

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker (Credit: Warner Bros.)

Read more: Could Todd Phillips’ Joker Be The Best Comic Book Movie Of The Year?

There is an element of spectacle in Marvel and DC’s movies which aren’t present in his films, and they are developed more to please the masses. I understand that.

However, saying they’re not cinema is taking it a tad too far, but again, I understand what he’s trying to say.

I understand his reservations about what these high-grossing movies are doing to filmmakers who are trying to make the sorts of movies that Scorsese’s been making.

What do you make of Martin Scorsese’s comic book movie comments, and his thoughts on Joker? Let us know in the comments below.

What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook or Instagram pages!

And if you enjoy listening to film podcasts, why not check out Small Screen Radio wherever you get your podcasts!