MCU Villain Actor Now Eyes Iconic Role as DC’s Joker

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Chukwudi Iwuji, who recently gave a memorably unsettling performance as the High Evolutionary in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, has expressed his desire to play one of the most famous characters in comic books: the Joker in the DC Universe.

I was so fascinated to hear what Daniel Merrifield recently discussed with Iwuji! He talked about how he’s approaching the Joker, and it’s brilliant. He really wants to show the deep sadness beneath all the chaos, but without losing any of the villain’s famous mania. It sounds like he’s aiming for a really complex and compelling portrayal.

You know, when I think about the Joker, I always feel like there *has* to be something seriously off about him, right? But ‘maniacal’ is such a broad term. What really got to me about Heath Ledger’s performance was realizing the Joker constantly changes his backstory about his father each time he tells it,” Iwuji explained. He went on to say that this combination of deep loneliness and over-the-top showmanship is key to really understanding who that character is.

Iwuji mentioned Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, especially the famous scene of him dancing on the steps, as a source of ideas. “I believe it stems from a character who feels compelled to create a narrative about his father, and who longs to be carefree and dance in the rain, but is burdened by the persona of the Joker. Therefore, there’s a profound sadness within him,” he explained.

“I think there’s a lot of depth to the sadness within the Joker character. And it’s frightening how, when you’re completely consumed by your own struggles, you might not even consider the impact of your actions on others.”

Iwuji became well-known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after playing the High Evolutionary, a very intelligent but ethically complicated villain, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which was released in 2023.

Reviewers greatly admired his performance, noting he brought a frighteningly clever and emotionally complex quality to the character. They specifically pointed out how he skillfully combined the High Evolutionary’s brilliant scientific mind with a truly terrifying lack of mercy. Several reviews emphasized that Iwuji’s acting gave the villain a sense of importance and weight, making the High Evolutionary more than just a standard comic book bad guy.

Having established himself playing complex, multi-faceted characters, Iwuji now wants to apply that same skill to the Joker. He aims to portray the character with genuine emotional depth, while still delivering the chaotic energy that fans anticipate.

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2025-09-30 11:44