From the moment the movie was first announced, it was made clear that the DC standalone feature "Todd Phillips has confirmed that the film's rating will reflect that tone.

In a post Joaquin Phoenix painting his face in the Joker's signature white makeup.

It's a haunting portrait, and the stark black and white imagery suggests that this flick will certainly strike a more somber note than previous interpretations of the character. And as Phillips revealed in replying to a fan comment, the film will be able to explore that darkness in every shade, thanks to an R rating.

While not an entirely shocking announcement (something Phillips himself noted in his response), it's still reassuring news for fans who have been craving a version of the Joker story that's less Jared Leto and more Heath Ledger (though, yes, Ledger's portrayal of the villain was in the PG-13 "The Dark Knight"). Everything we've seen so far from the flick suggests that the film will be leaning hard into that R.

"Joker" features an all-star cast alongside Phoenix, including Shea Whigham. It's slated to hit theaters on October 4.