Joaquin Phoenix is the Clown Prince of Crime in Debut Trailer for ‘Joker’ (VIDEO)

Ever since we first got wind of a standalone Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix, from the director of The Hangover, I think most of us were confused and didn't know what to think. I mean, the notion of one of our greatest living actors taking on one of the most iconic characters in pop culture was cause for excitement, but was Todd "Starsky & Hutch" Phillips really the guy to bring this thing to life?

Well, if the first teaser is any indication, I'm inclined to say that yes, he was. Phillips has always been an outstanding technical director. His films are always competently made and sequences like the tranquilizer dart scene in Old School proved that he had legitimate talent. Joker has been billed from minute one as a throwback to the gritty New York City films of the 70s like Taxi Driver and Taking of Pelham 1,2,3, with a dose of Scorsese's sorely underrated 1983 film The King of Comedy throw in, and this trailer lives up to those descriptors.

I like where things are headed for this and I hope that the final film lives up to the worlds of potential in this teaser. This is what I think we all wanted out of this character since Heath Ledger's iconic take on it, and I sincerely hope we're on that path. Joker hits theaters on October 4.