Holy Scorsese, Batman!

Leo? Really?

When news broke last week that Warner Bros. is developing a movie detailing theÂ origin story of Batman nemesis The Joker,Â many were surprised to see the name Martin Scorsese listed among the producers.After all, why would the 74-year old auteur filmmaker behind everything fromÂ Taxi DriverÂ toÂ SilenceÂ be interested in making the kind of studio franchise fare he has avoided throughout his career? And why would Warners executives, as brand managers of the extended DC Comics cinematic universe, want a legendarily controlling and free-spending talent involved in its marquee property?The answer involves a plan worthy of The Joker himself. Sources say Warners will make an ambitious attempt to use Scorsese to bring Leonardo DiCaprio into the world of comic-book movies. Certainly, Scorseseâ€™s involvement inÂ The Joker film, whichÂ The HangoverÂ filmmaker Todd Phillips would direct, could elevate and diversify the studio’s contributions to the genre, creating the potential to make awards-worthy films such as Christopher Nolan’sÂ The Dark KnightÂ trilogy.

Is This Real Life?

Oh, there’s more. . .

There’s no offer for DiCaprio, and sources say Scorsese’s deal to produce isn’t even done yet. The chances of landing DiCaprio could be slim to none. But the attempt in itself sends a signal to talent that Warners wants to hire serious filmmakers to make serious films.

This plan was not met with applause in all quarters: Insiders say Jared Leto, the actor who portrayed the Clown Prince of Crime in last summer’sÂ Suicide SquadÂ and is slated to reprise the character not just for a sequel but forÂ another spinoff movieÂ (with DC villainess Harley Quinn), was caught off-guard by the plans. Leto is said to have made his displeasure with the notion of multiple Jokers known to his CAA agents.