It’s official, Marc Maron and Robert De Niro have joined the cast of Joker. Both of the castings were confirmed by Marc Maron himself on his own podcast. It is unusual for both actors to be involved in a comic book film like this, but Maron said De Niro’s casting was part of what won him over.
We do not know much about either of their characters, except for that Robert De Niro plays the producer of a talk show that plays a role in booking Joaquin Pheonix’s character, and Marc Maron’s character is apparently an agent on that talk show. Maron’s full thoughts and comments on joining Joker can be seen below.
Alright, well yes, it is true. It is true people. It is true ladies and gentlemen, I have been added to the cast of the new Joker movie being directed by Todd Phillips, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro. Two of the greatest actors that have ever graced the screen. And I know some of you given my recent discussions about the slow corruption of our culture and arts by the consolidation of desire around the limited options of big budget blockbuster movies in the form of superhero movies are probably kind of thinking ‘well look at this. Big talker! Look at this guy! He’s a hypocrite, he’s this or that.’
I’ll be honest with ya, My agents trying to get me an audition for this film proceeded my rants. I do not think that my opinions have changed at all. I have in my life as I’ve mentioned before read plenty of comic books, but the bottom line is this. I never thought that my life would take me to where I am now. I didn’t assume anything when I started this podcast other than I hope I can stay alive. I don’t know if I can make a living. I don’t know what you do with these podcasts but I gotta stay engaged, stay busy and try to, you know, remain on the right side of the grass.
So, who would’ve known that some of my dreams would have come true if they were dreams or some of my ambitions? You know making my own TV show, developing an audience as a comedian, doing the best comedy I’ve ever done in my life. Having a career in show business period that the podcast itself would be successful…so given all that, certainly one of my childhood dreams, and I don’t want or like to use the word Bucket List but it was something I thought about in college and something I thought about as a fan of films was, ‘God if I was ever an actor it would be amazing to be in a scene with Robert De Niro. Wouldn’t it be amazing to act with Robert De Niro?’
“ow long have I been thinking about that? Most of my life! So, given that the time that we live in does not put a lot of resources into films like Deer Hunter, or even I would say, Raging Bull, or certainly not Taxi Driver, but probably not even Goodfellas really at this juncture in history, so given that this is the timing that this is where it’s at, once given the opportunity that it was going to happen, that I got this gig and I’m gonna do a couple of scenes maybe with Robert De Niro and Joaquin Phoenix, the next in the line of succession in great actors, f*ck yes I’m going to do that. Of course, I’m going to do that.
This is the movie that it’s going to be in, and hopefully it will make the cut, and honestly, it’s a pretty great script. So there you have it.
What do you think about these two additions to the film? Let us know in the comments!