In the movie Joker, director Todd Phillips reimagined Gotham City as a version of pre-’80s boom New York or an urban northeastern center, but not the iconic New York. This means that the city of Gotham in the film is a fictional representation of a gritty and decaying urban environment.
To bring this vision of Gotham City to life, the production designer Mark Friedberg and his team had the task of creating a unique and distinctive look for the city. They aimed to capture the essence of a place that could have shaped the character of Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
When Friedberg talks about their version of Gotham, he mentions that it was the city itself that groomed Joker. This suggests that the environment and atmosphere of Gotham played a significant role in shaping the character’s transformation into the Joker we know.
While the film doesn’t explicitly state the exact location of Gotham City, the visual cues and references point towards a city resembling New York. However, it is important to note that this version of Gotham is not meant to be a direct representation of the iconic New York City, but rather a fictionalized version with its own unique characteristics.
In terms of the visuals, Friedberg and his team aimed to create a Gotham City that felt both familiar and otherworldly. They incorporated elements such as gritty streets, dilapidated buildings, and a general sense of urban decay to evoke a dark and brooding atmosphere.
By reimagining Gotham City as a version of pre-’80s boom New York, Phillips and his team were able to create a distinctive backdrop for the story of Joker. This version of Gotham serves as a reflection of the societal and economic struggles that the character faces, ultimately contributing to his descent into madness.
The location of Gotham City in Joker is a fictional representation of a pre-’80s boom New York, designed to create a unique and distinct environment that shapes the character of Joker.