DC is working on a stand-alone origin film for The Joker with the legendary Martin Scorsese, however it seems that Jared Leto won’t be reprising his role. Instead the studio is doing this film in the style of Logan and Deadpool, where it takes place in the same universe, but it has no effect of the already established DCEU. Basically just a fun film to tell a fun (and heartbreaking) story, who could possibly take up the mantle as The Joker?

1. Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling’s career is absolutely exploding right now, and there has never been a time where people have loved him more. Because of this, it would be perfect to put his comedic wit and ranged acting skills to work as The Joker. He has a thin body type, he has played eccentric and insane characters extremely well in the past, and putting him in the role would only make the movie’s stock go through the roof.

2. James Franco

James Franco is an actor that everyone knows, and his smile matches that of the iconic grin seen on The Joker. He’s a terrific actor, and being somewhat method, he would be sure to see this as some sort of art project that he can really delve himself into. Franco has already played a role quite similar to this in the Spider-Man trilogy, and while he wasn’t the best villain back then, I’m sure that he would be able to make some major adjustments for doing that sort of character now.

3. Aaron Paul

While you may think of Aaron Paul as the punk meth head from Breaking Bad, the truth is that he’s become much more of a diverse actor since his departure from the show. Even during that five year run, Paul showed what it’s like for a character to slowly lose their mind, akin to what happens to Joker in The Killing Joke storyline. With a killer smile and an unhinged look in his eyes, Aaron Paul would be sure to give fans a rendition of The Joker that will not be soon forgotten.

4. Michael Fassbender

While he’s played more intellectual villains in the past, Fassbender just gives you the vibe that he wants to create chaos. His career has been skyrocketing non-stop in the past few years, and tying him to this role would be sure to make fans forget about Jared Leto completely. Michael Fassbender is a huge name with a look that complements that of The Joker’s to a tee, and could really breath life into a movie that has the potential to to phenomenally huge.

5. Adam Driver

Adam Driver can play the most sinister villains out there, and has a physique that matches that of Joker’s perfectly. He’s a young up-and-comer that could fit right into an origin movie, and gives off the vibe that he would smile while bludgeoning you to death. While he mainly plays characters that are dark and brooding, I believe that he could adapt enough to portray a maniac with a sense of humor, and could attract a lot more attention to the project.

6. Tom Hiddleston

When people think of a new Joker, Tom Hiddleston is the first name that comes to mind. He has the classic slender body type, a creepy and illustrious smile, and has already played an iconic villain with a thirst for chaos as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hiddleston landing the role of The Joker would be a dream come true for so many people, and he would have potential to be the most excellent Joker we have ever seen.

7. James McAvoy

James McAvoy gave a bone chilling performance as a criminally insane supervillain in Split, and could transfer over some of the same aspects from that role to The Joker. He is possibly one of the most ranged actors in Hollywood to date, and no matter what type of Joker the director might have in mind for this film, McAvoy will have the skills to perform it. He may not be a popular choice at first, but he would certainly give a fantastic performance as the Clown Prince of Crime.

8. Bill Skarsgård

Bill Skarsgård is most well known for playing another famous clown in Pennywise, and absolutely crushed that role. While that’s not exactly the same as playing the greatest criminal ever created, he still showed that he can be creepy and intimidating, and that’s about half of the role. He’s a little tall for the role, but he can more than make up for the physical inaccuracy with his acting talents, and would be sure to give us the most frightening Joker we’ve seen to date.

9. Edward Norton 

You might not think of Edward Norton when you think of people who could play The Joker, but he’s a veteran method actor that has more than enough skill to perform in the title role. Think of Norton in Primal Fear and Fight Club, and you know that he’s one of the best at playing characters that are mentally unstable, while delving himself deep into the mind of Batman’s archnemesis. He has the skinny physique that The Joker possesses, and while he might not have the iconic smile down pat just yet, I’m sure that he will create an unsettling grin using his unique method of acting.

10. Jake Gyllenhaal

Gyllenhaal has come up lately in the conversation to replace Ben Affleck as Batman, but wouldn’t he make a much better Joker? The chances of Affleck leaving the role are slim to none anyways, and Jake has given better performances in roles where he’s playing someone who is not mentally stable. He has a smile that will make you shift in your seat from a mile away, and fans have wanted to see him in this role for years. What more is there left to do besides putting him in the movie?

What do you think? Who should play The Joker? Let me know @jacomalfoy1 on Twitter!