According to director Matt Reeves, he was born that way. "It's like Phantom of the Opera," Reeves explained to Variety. "He has a congenital disease where he can't stop smiling and it's horrific. His face is half-covered through most of the film." This adds a new dimension to the character of The Joker.

Why is the Joker so disfigured in Batman?

Keoghan's Joker in "The Batman" has scarring from a congenital condition that makes him unable to stop smiling. The scars covering Keoghan's Joker's face are unique compared to past versions of the character.

Why does the Joker look so bad in The Batman?

Reeves confirmed his Joker suffers from a congenital disease. Still, this Joker looks a lot more monstrous, which continues the harmful "disfigured bad guy" trope so often seen in cinema. That said, Keoghan's Joker seems more reserved than Ledger's Joker, at least vocally.

Why is the Joker different in The Batman?

His take on the character is physically disfigured and clearly different from Phoenix's Joker/Arthur Fleck, not to mention younger and much earlier in his career. The logistical realities simply make it impossible for the two films to function in the same universe.

Why does Barry Keoghan's skin look like that?

The Saltburn star recently shared that he battled necrotizing fasciitis—a rare flesh-eating skin disease—just before he started filming The Banshees of Inisherin in 2021. In fact, Keoghan, who later earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the 2022 comedy-drama, told GQ in a profile published Jan.

The Batman's Joker Problem | Video Essay

How did Barry Keoghan get necrotizing?

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, necrotizing fasciitis is a flesh-eating disease caused by a rare bacterial infection, which develops after bacteria enters the body through cuts, scrapes, burns or insect bites. Keoghan stated in his interview that one in five cases is fatal.

Why is the Joker burned in Batman?

Matt Reeves has suggested (via IGN) that Barry Keoghan's Joker doesn't follow the standard ACE Chemicals vat backstory, but the wrinkled, broken, burned skin certainly points toward some kind of chemical exposure in his past. The potential key is a large scar located on the back of Joker's head.

Is Thomas Wayne the Joker's dad?

Later, Arthur goes to Arkham State Hospital and steals his mother's records, and finds out that he was in fact adopted, and that Thomas Wayne is not his father and that Penny is not his true mother.

Is the Joker Batman's brother?

No, Batman and Joker are not related.

Official confirmation will be required before we can consider Todd Phillips' Joker to be the brother of the much younger Bruce Wayne. Until then, they aren't officially related. In other comic updates, check out what Pink Kryptonite does to Superman.

Why did Batman hate the Joker?

The conflict focuses on the fate of Batman in this world, with the Joker torturing and killing his adversary every day, only to bring him back to life and do it over and over again.

What mental illness does the Joker have in Batman?

Pseudobulbar affect

These episodes are excessive, inconsistent with or disproportionate to circumstances or the patient's underlying mood at the time. In Joker's case, pseudobulbar affect probably occurred secondary to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

What is the Joker's real backstory?

The Joker has had various possible origin stories during his decades of appearances. The most common story involves his falling into a tank of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white and turns his hair green and lips bright red; the resulting disfigurement drives him insane.

Why is Joker's face messed up?

His second story is told to Rachel Dawes, Harvey Dent's girlfriend, about his wife who suffered a horrible injury at the hands of some gambling sharks. The Joker, being a loving husband, maimed his face to match, in order to empathize with her and make her feel better. Related: How Did The Joker Actually Get His Scars?

Why did Joker rip his face off?

Origins. When the Joker became obsessing over destroying the Bat-Family, he decided to arrange for his face to be surgically removed. According to the Joker, he did this to symbolize how even without his, "Mask" he was still the joker where-as Batman's Robins and Bat-Girls' identities were only mask-deep.

Why did the Joker actor go crazy?

Playing the role of Joker was scary, affected me mentally, shares actor Joaquin Pheonix. He mentioned that to play the role to perfection, he had to alter his looks and lose weight, which again, contributed to the mental breakdown. "The first thing was the weight loss, that's really what I started with.

Why was Joker so skinny?

Director Todd Phillips considered the character's body size as one way to represent his vulnerability. It is important to emphasize that unlike most people who diet to lose weight or who develop an eating disorder, Phoenix's weight loss was intended for the short amount of time it took to shoot the movie.

Does Bruce Wayne's mom become the Joker?

Creators. In an altered timeline, Martha Wayne became the Joker, fighting her husband Batman.

Who killed Bruce Wayne's parents?

Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #33 (November 1939). Batman: Three Jokers #1 (August 2020). In Batman's origin story, Joe Chill is the mugger who murders young Bruce Wayne's parents, Dr. Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne.

Do Bruce Wayne's parents become Batman and Joker?

She is the wife of Thomas Wayne and the mother of Bruce Wayne. Joe Chill murders Bruce Wayne, rather than the boy's parents. Martha Wayne was so traumatized by the event she becomes the Joker. Her husband Thomas wished to gain revenge for his son's murder and becomes this reality's version of Batman.

Who is Joker's biological mother?

Penny Fleck marks the second time in Batman media where the Joker's mother has appeared, especially given that the Joker's origins are a mystery as well his name in the mainstream comic book continuity.

How does Joker's mom know Thomas Wayne?

I asked Todd how Thomas Wayne would've know Arthur's mother. The backstory was that Arthur's mother had worked for Thomas in his home, and she was a beautiful woman who Thomas was attracted to and it led to a physical relationship. Later in life, she's in and out of mental institutions.

Who was Joker's son?

Joker Jr. is the son of Harley Quinn and the mass-murdering criminal The Joker.

Why is Batman sad when Joker dies?

Batman Saw the Joker's Death as a Personal Failure

He further learns that there are some worlds where the Joker is no more. But Halliday's corruption has either resurrected them or made the existing ones go haywire.

Why Batman never kills Joker?

The true reason why Batman doesn't kill the Joker has been revealed. The Dark Knight believes that there is still some part of the Joker that is worth saving. This belief in humanity and finding it even within Gotham's most depraved criminal proves that Batman is and always will be one of DC's most caring heroes.

Why is Joker immune to Joker gas?

He used this variety on the GCPD officers while he retrieved his face. The Joker himself is immune to most if not all strains of Joker Venom (a possible side-effect of his own constant exposure to and abuse of his chemical weaponry).