Joaquin Phoenix seen for the first time wearing 'Joker' makeup

Joaquin Phoenix plays The Joker. Photo / Instagram

The first image of Joaquin Phoenix in makeup to play The Joker was released on Friday.

The actor can be seen with clown like paint on his face in an Instagram image shared by Todd Phillips then Warner Bros. The caption read: 'Camera test (w/ sound). Joker according to href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6194541/Joaquin-Phoenix-seen-time-clown-makeup-play-Joker-2019-movie.html" target="null">DailyMail.

At first the star is seen with plain clothes on. Then flashes of light spread over his face before he begins to smile. Finally, the made up Joker is exposed.

The film is due to be released in the US on October 4, 2019.

View this post on Instagram

Camera test (w/ sound). Joker.

A post shared by Todd Phillips (@toddphillips1) on Sep 21, 2018 at 10:00am PDT

Earlier this week, Phoenix seemed solemn and disheveled as he filmed more scenes for the Batman character's origins movie on the streets of New York.

It was Gotham City in the 1980s.

The actor, 43, has grown a shaggy hairstyle and appears to have lost weight for the role which explores how the comic book villain came to be.

Phoenix wore loose-fitting black trousers and a pale purple patterned shirt left unbuttoned at the collar.