Joaquin Phoenix dazzles in the official 'Joker' trailer

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(CNN) - "Joker" was made for Joaquin Phoenix.

Warner Bros. released on Wednesday the official trailer for the movie inspired by a comic. Playing the famous Batman villain, Phoenix inhabits the role completely and almost guarantees that he will be recognized during the Oscar season.

Warner Bros. is owned by the parent company of CNN.

The film takes place in 1981 and tells the backstory of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who resorts to murder in Gotham City.

While the trailer is running, Nat King Cole's "Smile" sounds, the trailer shows Phoenix working like a failed clown in the streets.

“My mother always tells me to smile and put on a happy face. He told me he had the purpose of bringing laughter and joy to the world, ”says a deranged Phoenix before being attacked.

The studio launched a first look for the film in April.

The director of "The Hangover", Todd Phillips, directs the project.

Robert De Niro plays a host of a talk show that causes the downward spiral of the Joker when he criticizes it on television. The "Atlanta" star Zazie Beetz interprets the love interest of Phoenix. Frances Conroy, Bill Camp and Marc Maron also co-star in the film.

"Joker" will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, becoming the first comic film to do so, then it will be presented at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

"Joker" officially arrives in theaters on October 4.

Joaquin PhoenixJoker