The initial reports regarding the upcoming Joker origin movie from writer / director Todd Phillips noted that the project was loosely inspired by the Martin Scorsese classic King of Comedy — so it makes sense that Scorsese himself was persuaded to executive produce Joker. According to a new report, that King of Comedy connection is getting a little more obvious, as Robert De Niro is officially in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in the DC standalone film.
Jake LaMotta, the boxer dubbed the “Bronx Bull” and immortalized by Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in Raging Bull, has died at the age of 95. LaMotta passed away Tuesday in a nursing home, members of his family told TMZ, from complications from pneumonia, his wife said.