I’m having trouble believing that a top-tier live-action Joker appearance didn’t debut in the movies. Remarkably, State Farm Insurance recently released a Super Bowl-worthy ad inspired by Batman and his Rogues Gallery in Gotham City. However, an extended cut of the commercial set in the DC Universe was also released, featuring one of the best live-action Jokers I’ve ever seen.

It’s no secret that live-action depictions of Batman’s arch-foe have been all over the map. Even if you just compare Heath Ledger’s Joker, Jared Leto’s, and Joaquin Phoenix’s versions, it’s clear to see that they all look vastly different and have been more unique than what’s seen in the original DC Comics. The same looks to be true of Barry Keoghan’s upcoming Joker in The Batman trilogy. Having a distinct look in live-action isn’t necessarily a bad thing (though sometimes it is). That said, State Farm’s Joker looks excellent and refreshingly comic-accurate.

State Farm Just Released A Whole Batman-Themed Commercial

Full Of Stars and Iconic Gotham Villains

Released on March 12th, State Farm debuted both a 60-second and extended 2-minute cut of their new “Batman vs. Bateman” commercial. Essentially, the entire gag is that “Having insurance isn’t the same as having State Farm. It’s like getting Bateman when you need the protection of Batman.” To that end, both ads see actor Jason Bateman answering the call of the bat signal, riding a scooter while the real Batman races down the streets of Gotham in the far more impressive Batmobile.

The ad also features multiple members of Batman’s rogues gallery and some famous names beyond Bateman. This includes SZA as Catwoman, YouTuber Jordan Howlett aka Jordan Thee Stallion as Commissioner Gordon, and popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat as a Gotham civilian. Likewise, it’s also been theorized that the voice of the real Batman may very well be Will Arnett, Bateman’s co-star from Arrested Development and the voice of The Dark Knight in The LEGO Batman Movie. That said, the best part of the new Batman-inspired ad has to be the supervillains, particularly The Joker.

I Can’t Get Over How Scary Good Joker Looks

He Actually Looks…Perfect?

Although Joker is shown briefly at the beginning of the ad, the extended cut features a bigger sequence for the Clown Prince where Bateman ignores Batman’s warnings while the duo investigates Arkham Asylum. Bateman then falls through a trap door and is subsequently surrounded by multiple villains led by the Joker himself. However, Joker and his fellow rogues are taken aback by Bateman, who’s fully prepared to be roommates with the Clown Prince of Crime provided the Joker cuts back on all the “weird clown stuff.”

Despite Bateman’s debut as an intentionally unserious hero armed with a fanny pack, The Joker looks incredible in this new State Farm ad. He’s extremely comic-accurate, and it’s not hard to argue that he’s ironically more accurate and one of the best-looking live-action Jokers that’s ever been seen on-screen in some time. He certainly looks better than the DCEU’s Joker played by Jared Leto, as well as Joaquin Phoenix’s controversial Arthur Fleck. Although Heath Ledger’s Joker look will always be iconic, the State Farm Joker is still more comic-accurate, particularly when it comes to the hairstyle.

Barry Keoghan Is Going To Be Great, But State Farm’s Joker Should Be The DCU Blueprint

A Classic Yet Impressively Terrifying Look For The Clown Prince of Crime

On the one hand, I’m extremely excited about Barry Keoghan’s Joker in the next chapters of The Batman trilogy. Based on what we know thus far, this version of Joker will have been born with a congenital disease that refuses to let him stop smiling, an intriguing new route to take with the Joker’s origins in this alternate DC timeline. It should allow for a very unique take on the Joker, and his disfigured appearance has already been partially shown in cut sequences of The Batman released by director Matt Reeves.

That being said, the Joker’s classic appearance in the comics is iconic for a reason, and it would be very exciting to see a modern live-action Joker who looks as close to the Clown Prince seen on the page as possible. Given how well State Farm’s Joker has been received online, I’m really hoping that James Gunn is taking notes for the DCU. After all, a more comic-accurate look would ironically help set the DCU Joker apart from prior depictions seen in past movies.

Source: State Farm/YouTube

The Joker

Created By

Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson

Cast

Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, Barry Keoghan

First Appearance

Batman (1940)

Alias

Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves

RELATIONSHIPS

Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)

Alliance

Injustice League, Legion of Doom, Injustice Gang

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  Joker: Folie a Deux

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  October 4, 2024
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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