Final JOKER Trailer Here is the final JOKER trailer! The film, directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover, War Dogs), stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Bryan Callen, Shea Whigham, Brett Cullen, Marc Maron, and Robert De Niro. JOKER will be released in theaters on October 4. Joker centers around an origin of the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Todd Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.