According to reports, Warner Bros. and DC are working on a Joker standalone movie and Martin Scorsese is involved with the project.

Deadline reports the legendary director will produce the movie, which is expected to be an origins set story in Gotham City set in the early 80s.

“The intention is to make a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film[…] that isn't meant to feel like a DC movie as much as one of Scorsese's films from that era, like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull or The King Of Comedy,” reporter Mike Fleming Jr. writes.

Because the movie will center around a younger Joker, it is not surprising that Jared Leto is not expected to star in the movie. The studio is reportedly searching for a new Joker character with a different, likely younger, villain.

As for Jared Leto, Leto is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel and the Harley Quinn spinoff.

Todd Phillips, best known for his work in The Hangover franchise, has been tapped to direct the untitled Joker movie. Phillips will co-write the script along with Scott Silver (8 Mile) and will also serve as a producer.