"Joker," the Todd Phillips film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the homicidal Batman villain with an affinity for clown makeup, will film in Jersey City and Newark on six dates starting next weekend.
The upcoming film shoot, the largest production to film in Jersey City in recent memory, has that city's emergency management officials coordinating with City Hall's communications staff and the police department to make sure all runs smoothly.
In Jersey City the production will shut down Newark Avenue in front of the historic Brennan courthouse and the county administration building for an entire Sunday later this month and a portion of Kennedy Boulevard near the Journal Square PATH hub for a Friday afternoon in November, according to plans obtained by The Jersey Journal.
The plans call for NJ Transit to reroute buses during filming and for the city to prevent pedestrians and motorists from disrupting filming.
A flyer seeking extras says filming will take place in Newark between Oct. 13 and Oct. 16.
"Joker" will tell the story of The Joker's rise from failed comedian to Batman's nemesis. The Warner Bros. film, also starring Robert De Niro, is scheduled to be released on Oct. 4, 2019.
Phillips on Friday posted footage on Instagram showing Phoenix in full Joker makeup.
The production is seeking extras who will be paid $143 for 10 hours. Anyone interested can email romeo@gwcnyc.com with their full name, phone number, age, height, weight, clothing and shoe sizes and dates available, plus an attachment with a current photo of themselves (selfies are OK). Write "NJ Local Flyer" in the email's subject line.
"Romeo" is the film's working title.
The production will begin in Jersey City on Sunday, Sept. 30. Filming will take place in front of the Newark Avenue courthouse until potentially as early as 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 1. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed on that roadway during that time.
Starting at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, no cars will be allowed to park on either side of Pavonia Avenue between Central and Chestnut avenues; on the east side of Central between Pavonia and Newark; and on either side of Newark between Baldwin and Summit avenues.
Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said a limited number of parking spaces will be offered to residents affected by the production shoot. Proof of vehicle registration will be required. Letters with product contact information will be given to all affected residents and businesses.
The second Jersey City shoot is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 9 in front of the Landmark Loew's Jersey Theater.
Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.