TODD PHILLIPS

For director and actor Olivia Wilde, the dream of the Venice International Film Festival was woven into the fabric of her new film, “Don’t Worry Darling.”.

The first "Joker" earned over $1 billion, demanding bigger salaries for star Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips.

Ivan Reitman had his army of well-known, frequent collaborators but the filmmaker and producer’s influence extended beyond that too, as evidenced by the tributes that poured in at the news of his sudden passing at age 75.

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 file photo, actress Cate Blanchett poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'A Star Is Born' at the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. The lineup for the Venice Film Festival will be announced on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, and will be the first major film event since the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Barbera noted that almost half of the competition film selections this year are directed by women. The decision to hold the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival is experienced like a sign of confidence in dnd concrete support of the world of film and the audiovisual industry, Barbera said. Cannes and Telluride were cancelled and others like Venice and the Toronto International Film Festival have had to get creative and scale back where possible in order to proceed.

Rounding out the best picture category: "Ford v Ferrari," "Jojo Rabbit," "Little Women," "Marriage Story" and "Parasite." Scarlett Johansson is a double nominee, earning a best actress nod for "Marriage Story" and best supporting actress for "Jojo Rabbit." How to watch the OscarsWhat : The 92nd Academy Awards: The 92nd Academy Awards Date : Sunday, February 9, 2020: Sunday, February 9, 2020 Time : 8 p.m. : The show will be streamed on such services as AT&T Now, Hulu and YouTube TV, and viewers with participating TV providers can watch the show on abc.com. For best actress, Johansson faces Cynthia Erivo for "Harriet," Saoirse Ronan for "Little Women," Charlize Theron for "Bombshell" and Renee Zellweger, who plays Judy Garland in "Judy."

The slate of 2020 Oscar contenders for the directing prize were Martin Scorsese ("The Irishman"), Todd Phillips ("Joker"), Sam Mendes ("1917"), Quentin Tarantino ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") and Bong Joon Ho ("Parasite"), five incredibly talented male directors. Scorsese, Mendes and Tarantino are highly regarded in the industry, but the lack of female directors has been a sore spot for many in recent years. This year, several female directors could have snagged a nomination. Gerwig, whose "Little Women" received six nods, was a top contender heading into the nominations. Wang's "The Farewell," which scored numerous nominations at the Golden Globes and led to an acting award for star Awkwafina, was shut out from all Oscar categories.

BALDWIN, Fla. – The man who police say was gunned down by his coworker at a Baldwin truck stop was laid to rest in Northwest Jacksonville on Saturday morning. Loved ones say 58-year-old Todd Phillips is the man who died at the Pilot gas station more than a week ago. It was a quiet morning as Phillips’ loved ones entered the Holy Tabernacle Church. While family and friends honor and remember Phillips, there was another person who was shot, who police did not identify. News4Jax found the other man shot was also an employee of the trucking company.

BALDWIN, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on Friday identified the man accused of shooting two people — one fatally — at a Baldwin truck stop before exchanging gunfire with officers along a busy interstate. Family told News4Jax that Todd Phillips was the man who was shot and killed outside the truck stop. JSO said Edwards, 56, worked for Rinaudo Enterprises Inc. and the shooting that occurred at the truck stop was not random but rather a case of workplace violence. Friends said Todd Phillips, 58, was killed by a co-worker at a Baldwin truck stop. JSO said the incident continues to be an active investigation and asks anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500.

After cracking the billion-dollar mark, it seems Warner Bros. is interested in letting Todd Phillips direct another "Joker" movie. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips is currently in talks with the studio to direct a second "Joker" film, with Joaquin Phoenix back to star. Phoenix reportedly had a sequel option in his initial contract with Warner Bros."Joker" is the fourth DC title to surpassed $1 billion at the box office. He left that meeting with the rights to at least one DC story, sources told the Hollywood Reporter. Read the full report from The Hollywood Reporter.

Extra layers of security, intense on-screen action and a frightening incident inside a New York theater combined to create an unsettling experience for some moviegoers who went to see "Joker" on its opening weekend. Other patrons yelled at the man, who spit on them as they left early, said Nathanael Hood, who was in the theater. Social media users posted photos of police, security sweeps and safety notices at theaters in California and Florida. "About halfway through when Joker started killing people and monologuing about how society is evil he started clapping really loudly and incessantly for a good minute. The man started clapping and cheering again "really loudly" during a climatic gunfight, he said, and got "belligerent" when people told him to quit.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing us Joker wouldn't be another Batman origin story. The Wayne family is established early on in the story, with Arthur's mother, Penny (Frances Conroy), writing to businessman-turned-politico Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen) asking for financial assistance. That's right: Batman and Joker are half-brothers, at least according to Penny. Movie-goers are now twisting the Batman canon with their own theories, one of which says that Phoenix's Joker is not actually the Joker but a predecessor who inspires another Joker to emerge, a Joker who will become Batman's longtime foe. RELATED CONTENT:How Joaquin Phoenix Perfected His 'Joker' Laugh (Exclusive)Will There Be a 'Joker' Sequel?

Joker only just arrived in theaters, but it's already the most controversial movie of the year. Director Todd Phillips' origin story -- about a disturbed wannabe comedian, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), who will become DC's Clown Prince of Crime -- is either the best film of the year or dangerously reckless, with few opinions falling in the middle. At the Venice Film Festival, where it had its premiere, Joker received an eight-minute standing ovation. Joker was announced as a standalone film outside WB's ongoing DC Extended Universe, but is a sequel something Phillips is interested in? RELATED CONTENT:How Joaquin Phoenix Perfected His 'Joker' Laugh (Exclusive)Joaquin Phoenix Lost 50 Pounds for 'Joker': Inside His Physical Transformation (Exclusive)Upcoming DC Movies: The Full List From 'The Batman' to 'Wonder Woman 1984' and Beyond

There is a constituency eager to blame Hollywood for contributing to societal ills that includes plenty of dishonest brokers. (At the risk of stating the obvious, this R-rated film is not for children, although a parade of related Halloween costumes seems sadly inevitable.) Ultimately, "Joker" is about the making of a monster, told in a manner that seeks to evoke empathy without rooting for him -- a fine line, underscoring a level of ambition beyond what's usually associated with comic-book-adjacent fare. Phoenix's live-wire work alone makes "Joker" an intriguing film, if one that has been conspicuously overpraised amid the irrational exuberance of film festivals. "Joker" premieres Oct. 4 in the US and is rated R. The film is being released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of WarnerMedia.

And boy, does Joaquin Phoenix laugh. The result is like one of the Joker's "HA HAHA HA HA" speech bubbles from the comics brought to life, though the process to find it weighed on Phoenix. "I asked Todd to come over to my house to audition the laugh, and he said that wasn't necessary. "But a lot of it wasn't choreographed," Phoenix added. Instead, he found inspiration in vaudeville star Ray Bolger's performance of "The Old Soft Shoe" and found himself channeling Bolger's movements.

In the clip, an irritated Phoenix is seemingly trying to concentrate and cursing while complaining about a man named Larry. "I'm trying to, like, find something real." I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry you guys had to see that." "So it was wrong of me, I'm sorry, but he shouldn't have done it."

On Saturday, Joaquin Phoenix was joined by longtime girlfriend Rooney Mara at the lavish premiere of his new film, Joker. He also sported a mustache and beard at the rollout for the film, which earned him the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and is already attracting awards season buzz. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty ImagesAnd in August, the pair exuded Old Hollywood glamour while side by side at the rollout for Joker at the Venice Film Festival. Phoenix wore a tuxedo with a bow tie. RELATED CONTENT:'Joker' Director Todd Phillips Discusses Popular Theory | Full InterviewBradley Cooper Makes Dapper Surprise Appearance at 'Joker' Premiere -- PicsRooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix Are the Cutest Couple at Cannes Closing Ceremony -- See the Sweet Pics

With a little more than a week before "Joker" is set to be released, Warner Bros. has finally weighed in on the mounting controversy surrounding the R-rated adaptation of DC Comics villainous clown prince of crime. Warner Bros. said in a statement Tuesday that gun violence is a critical issue and that the studio has a long history of donating to victims of violence. "Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind," the statement said. Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for additional comment. Here is Warner Bros. complete statement:

The Joker premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on Monday got an extra dose of star power! Bradley Cooper graced the red carpet of the DC film, posing with the film's cast, including Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the Clown Prince of Crime. Although his appearance was a surprise to fans, the 44-year-old leading man wasn't merely there to show his support -- he's a producer on the project. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August, where it earned the Golden Lion jury award and sweeping acclaim for Phoenix's portrayal of villainous titular character. RELATED CONTENT:Joaquin Phoenix Goes Full Joker While Shooting Intense Chase SceneJoaquin Phoenix Transforms Into the Joker in First Clip of Him in Full MakeupSee First Look at Joaquin Phoenix in 'Joker' Standalone Film

Warner Bros. Pictures via CNNVENICE, Italy (CNN) - Let's put a smile on that face: A "Batman" prequel scored big Saturday at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival. Todd Phillips' "Joker" took home the festival's big prize, the Golden Lion for Best Film. The movie, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and is slated to hit theaters on October 4, explores the origins of the Joker, Batman's archenemy. Phillips also thanked Phoenix, who joined him on stage. The 76th Venice Film Festival, the world's oldest film festival, was held August 28 through September 7.

"She was such a star, but we didn't get to see that much of her [in Suicide Squad]. (Gunn has since returned to the Marvel fold and will helm Guardians 3 following The Suicide Squad.) sequel, WB has long been in-the-works on an origin story centered on longtime Shazam adversary and occasional antihero, Black Adam. "Black Adam is an antihero -- or villain -- who I cannot wait to play....They're all getting their a** kicked when I play Black Adam. Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra (Disney's Jungle Cruise)Starring: Dwayne JohnsonFind out even more about Black Adam here.