Joker, an American psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips, is set to hit Dhaka cinemas today. Along with its US release, the film will be screened at Star Cineplex and Blockbuster Cinemas in the capital.

Jointly written by Scott Silver and Todd Phillips, the film is intended to launch DC Black, a series of DC-based standalone films distributed by Warner Bros Pictures.

Joker, a standalone origin story, revolves around the iconic nemesis of Batman. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is about a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comedian by night, but finds that the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study. Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy star in supporting roles.

Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival in August, where it won the Golden Lion, the festival’s highest prize.