Not every day does Gotham’s mythos find itself mingling with the legacy of Swedish cinema and Pennywise’s chilling grin. Bill Skarsgård, celebrated for the make-up-laden roles that haunt fans beyond the finale, has become a fresh focus of comic fandom’s curiosity. With The Brave and the Bold lurking on the horizon of release for DC’s next cinematic era, online whispers swirl: could Skarsgård be the next to wear the Joker’s infamous smile, joining the illustrious rogues of Batman’s world?

Who better to haunt Gotham’s shadows than the Swedish chameleon who already made clowns terrifying?

Recent weeks have witnessed fervent speculation suggesting that Bill Skarsgard is in line to play Joker in the DC Universe’s upcoming film, The Brave and the Bold. This heated guessing game started when parody accounts and unverified fan pages claimed Skarsgård had secured the part, which does not seem to be the case in actuality. There has not been any official casting announcement from Warner Bros. Discovery or DC Studios. For now, neither company has confirmed who will play Joker opposite Batman in this installment in the franchise.

The origin of this rampant speculation centers on Skarsgård's expressed interest in exploring the Joker. He publicly declared on the Happy, Sad Confused interviews that he has a “really cool Joker in me,” citing his fascination with complex, psychologically demanding characters, particularly in residents of Gotham. Add in Skarsgård's career-long penchant for transformation, and the theorizing practically writes itself.

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In a world full of Jokers, could Bill Skarsgård be the wild card Gotham did not see coming?

Part of the excitement also comes from Bill Skarsgård's already existing working relationship with Andy Muschietti, the new director of The Brave and the Bold, who is soon set to become part of the new, more careful DC Universe, leading online communities to read into every handshake and shared photograph. Skarsgård's portfolio, already stamped with Muschietti's signature with the It movies, seems to be an approval more imminent than any other at the moment.  

To date, all indications are that Skarsgård's Joker is the stuff of social media wish lists rather than concrete Hollywood deals. While the actor has thrown his hat into the ring and inspired viral fan art, DC has chosen to keep the cards close for now. Until an official announcement emerges, Bill Skarsgård's possible Joker remains speculation fuelled by fandom, interviews, and coincidence. As ever in Gotham, the only certainty is more shadows to chase.

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What do you think of Bill Skarsgård playing DCU's version of the It? Let us know in the comments below!