Warner Bros. announced that principal photography on Todd Phillips’ Joker has begun. The company also released the first image of star Joaquin Phoenix.

In the pic, Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck bears a passing resemblance to Javier Bardem’s villainous Anton Chigurh from the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men, but that’s likely to be the only similarity. Phoenix stars alongside Robert DeNiro and Zazie Beetz (see “Frank Miller Regains 'Sin City' Rights, Rucka Adapting 'The Old Guard,' 'Charlie's Angels' and 'Wonder Woman 2' Casting, 'Detective Pikachu' Moves to Warner Bros.”), as well as Bill Camp (Red Sparrow), Frances Conroy (Castle Rock), Brett Cullen (Narcos), Glenn Fleshler (Billions), Douglas Hodge (Penny Dreadful), Marc Maron (GLOW), Josh Pais (Going in Style), and Shea Whigham (Kong: Skull Island).

The standalone film, which promises a dark and cautionary tale about Batman’s nemesis, is scheduled to bow on October 4, 2019 (see “Live Action Pooh, 'Uglydolls' Coming to Theaters, 'Bloodshot' and 'Joker' Stake Out Release Dates”).