Lakeith Stanfield is one Hell of a promising young talent. Beginning his career with the criminally underrated SHORT TERM 12, Stanfield has gone on to star in a variety of films, everything from historical dramas like SELMA, to horror films like GET OUT, to murder mysteries like last year's KNIVES OUT. In addition he's had roles in the television shows Atlanta and Bojack Horseman and even plays in the band Moors. That's a Hell of a resume for someone still six months shy of his twenty-ninth birthday. Eclectic thy name is Lakeith.
Stanfield has certainly worked with a wide range of directors as well, including Ava DuVernay, F. Gary Gray, and Rian Johnson. Most recently Lakeith Stanfield had the opportunity to work with the kinetic directors the Safdie Brothers in UNCUT GEMS. Joshua Safdie and Benny Safdie are known for their stylized and anxiety inducing works. The pair are two of the most dynamic directing duos working today and Stanfield very much wants to work with them again, albeit in a novel capacity.
In a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Stanfield expressed his desire to play the Clown Prince of Crime himself, the Joker, on the big screen. While Stanfield greatly admired the incredible performance Joaquin Phoenix delivered in last year's JOKER, he also made the bold statement, "Wait til they see me do it" on the late night talk show. This is similar to Jack Nicholson's line, "Wait til they get a load of me" in Tim Burton's BATMAN.
Stanfield's desire to play the role hasn't waned either, as we was asked about playing the Joker again while doing press for his upcoming film THE PHOTOGRAPH. Speaking to Collider, Stanfield commented on what he'd bring to the role and who he'd like to see helm the project:
“What I’d bring to it would have a lot to do with who I collaborate with, and how the story’s written and what world we exist in, and then I’ll go do my lil magic. Hey, wouldn’t it be crazy if me and the Safdies did something like that?”
Sweet mother of Kevin Garnett, can you imagine how batshit, crazy insane a Joker film directed by the Safdie Brothers would be? To combine the frenetic energy of the Safdie Brothers with Stanfield's talent would be just superb. I can't even begin to imagine the dark, gritty, and visceral take those three could actualize. Even though Lakeith Stanfield possesses a sincere love of the Joker (he cosplayed as the character at the JOKER premiere last September), just because you say you want something to happen doesn't mean it is actually going to happen. Another JOKER film would likely involve Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips. However, Matt Reeves THE BATMAN is said to be the first in a new Dark Knight trilogy. Could Lakeith Stanfield show up as the Joker in one of the sequels? I suppose anything is possible.
So what do you guys think of this news? Would you be down for a Joker film starring Lakeith Stanfield? Do you like him as an actor? How do you think the Safdie brothers would approach a Joker movie? Sound off in the comments below!