Joker: Secret trivia, hidden Batman Easter eggs and surprising facts you didn’t know about the movie

Joker centers around Batman’s iconic arch nemesis in a gritty, standalone origin story that hasn’t been told before on the big screen.

The Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated movie stars Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line, Gladiator) as Arthur Fleck, who later becomes the Joker, and is directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover trilogy).

Here, we reveal trivia, hidden Batman Easter eggs and surprising facts you might not know about the Joker film, ahead of its release on Sky Cinema.

1.  Joaquin Phoenix would walk off set in the middle of a scene

In an interview with The New York Times, director Todd Phillips revealed that Phoenix worried his co-stars by leaving the set during takes. Phillips said: “In the middle of the scene, he’ll just walk away and walk out. And the poor other actor thinks it’s them and it was never them - it was always him, and he just wasn’t feeling it.”

2. Keep your eyes peeled for some hidden cameos

According to ScreenRant.com, Justin Theroux plays a guest on the Murray Show who Arthur Fleck watches on TV and imitates. The voice of director Todd Phillips is heard too - he's the comedian who precedes Fleck at the comedy club, telling an off-colour joke.

3. An emotional ad lib remained in the film

IMDB reports that Joaquin Phoenix unexpectedly shed a tear during the very first take. When his character looked in the mirror as the score was playing, a little tear appears - which director Phillips kept in.

4. There’s a nod to the co-creator of Batman

Arthur’s social worker at the start of the film is named Debra Kane. Den of Geek reports that Bob Kane was the co-creator of both Batman and the Joker in the comics. 

5. Bradley Cooper is a producer on the film

The Star is Born actor was drawn to the film after working with the film’s director Todd Phillips on War Dogs. Speaking about how he came on board, Cooper said: “Todd called me and said, ‘I have this crazy idea for this sort of alternate version of DC, and the first one is the origin story of Joker’. I thought, ‘This is just so bold.’”

6. Don’t expect a Phoenix/Pattinson crossover

At the Toronto International Film Festival, director Todd Phillips insisted that Joaquin Phoenix's Joker and the upcoming new Batman played by Robert Pattinson will not collide. "I don't see [Joker] connecting to anything in the future," Phillips said. "This is just a movie."

7. It’s broken box office records

Joker has grossed over $1 billion, making it the first R-rated film to pass the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office.

8. There's a hidden Easter egg for fans of the Batman TV series

When Arthur Fleck goes to Wayne Manor, a young Bruce Wayne slides down a pole in his playhouse to go meet Arthur at the gates. In the 1966 television series, Batman and Robin would slide down their Batpoles from Wayne Manor to reach the Batcave, according to CinemaBlend.com. 

9. And yes, that is Alfred in the same scene

As reported by GamesRadar.com, the British man roughed up by Arthur who leads Bruce away is none other than Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth, played by Douglas Hodge.

Watch Joker now with the NOW TV Sky Cinema Pass.