LaKeith Stanfield has gone on the record regarding his dream superhero movie role, and it could be an ideal fit for the DCU’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold. After years of divisive movies in the mainline DC Extended Universe, a brave new world is under the watchful eye of new management at the DCU, including co-head James Gunn. New faces can play iconic characters, and Stanfield has a diverse acting CV under his belt. Not only that, but he has dropped some pretty major hints that he wants to appear as a certain well-known DC character at some point.

It’s not unheard of for actors to use word-of-mouth and grassroots campaigns to score a big superhero role. Ryan Reynolds spent years trying to get the Deadpool movie off the ground, and the efforts paid off. Reynolds’ career was rejuvenated and audiences got a paradigm-shifting movie as a result. With everything we know about the DCU so far, information regarding Batman: The Brave And The Bold has been shared so a picture is starting to build. Stanfield, in particular, has his sights set on a huge DC icon, and his portrayal could be perfect.

LaKeith Stanfield Wants To Play The Joker, And He’d Be Great

Stanfield’s Esoteric Acting Style Is The Perfect Fit For The Iconic Villain

One of the first hints that Stanfield wanted the role was in 2018 via a Deadline interview, saying: “I just think there are so many things that haven’t been touched yet in terms of how the performance can be delivered.” This was reiterated with a Collider piece in 2020, where he expressed a desire to collaborate with the Safdie Brothers. Around that time, he made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, where he expanded on his passion for the project and showed off ‘proof-of-concept’ test photos showing him in the unmistakable Joker make-up.

Stanfield’s past performances show a dynamic range of abilities that could be ideal for joining other Joker actors on the big screen. The actor is renowned for his esoteric style and demeanor, most notably exemplified to wide acclaim in the TV show Atlanta, but he is also capable of playing more complicated, ambivalent characters in films including Uncut Gems and Judas And The Black Messiah, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Stanfield can move from one emotion to the next with intensity, matching many of The Joker’s chaotic characteristics.

The DCU Needs A Bold New Joker

Several Variations On A Theme Mean That It’s Time To Shake Things Up

The Joker is one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture and is always at risk of being overused. There have been several Jokers over the years, a trend continuing into Joker: Folie à Deux and The Batman – Part II. Along with Joaquin Phoenix and Barry Keoghan, there’s also Jack Nicholson’s unforgettable take, Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning portrayal, and the more divisive Joker played by Jared Leto. Each actor has brought something unique to the role with memorable effects, but they’ve all been similar spins on the same template and a breath of fresh air could be required.

With numerous superhero movies in existence, several planned, and the DCU still in its earliest stages now is the best time for a different sort of thinking that can give audiences something that feels fresh and vibrant while adhering to the source material of the Batman comics. Casting Stanfield as The Joker is a bold artistic gamble and not without risk, but it could offer up a fresh portrayal of The Joker that could captivate viewers and the DCU could also justify another version of the character that isn’t just more of the same.

There’s no doubt that Stanfield is a capable and accomplished actor, and he brings a unique set of skills to any part he plays. The arrival of the DCU represents a fresh opportunity to revitalize superhero films by making interesting creative decisions that challenge established norms. With everything to play for as Batman: The Brave And The Bold ramps up production, the perfect candidate for the lead villain is already right under people’s noses.