The iconic role of the Joker might be best associated with the late, great Heath Ledger, but now the first trailer has dropped for Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of one of DC Comic's most psychopathic villains.

The chilling teaser shows the Joker portrayed as we have never been seen him before, and this autumn moviegoers will finally discover exactly what it was that transformed the man into the monster we all love to hate in his highly-anticipated origins story starring Joaquin Phoenix.

In the trailer, the character's past as a failed comedian, along with a seemingly disturbing relationship with his mother, all appear to contribute to his later villainy. "I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it's a comedy," he says.

We also get to hear Phoenix's interpretation of the Joker's infamous laugh for the first time, and Mark Hamill (who voiced The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and several Batman games), would be proud.

And while some may have had their doubts about Phoenix's ability to take on the role, especially as Ledger's Academy Award-winning portrayal in The Dark Knight is often deemed unbeatable, the internet was almost unanimously in favor of the trailer:

In fact, after viewing it, some people went as far as to say that Phoenix's portrayal could end up rivaling Ledger's.

Joker is scheduled to be released in the UK and US on October 4, Digital Spy reports.

The iconic role of the Joker might be best associated with the late, great Heath Ledger, but now the first trailer has dropped for Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of one of DC Comic's most psychopathic villains.

The chilling teaser shows the Joker portrayed as we have never been seen him before, and this autumn moviegoers will finally discover exactly what it was that transformed the man into the monster we all love to hate in his highly-anticipated origins story starring Joaquin Phoenix.

In the trailer, the character's past as a failed comedian, along with a seemingly disturbing relationship with his mother, all appear to contribute to his later villainy. "I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it's a comedy," he says.

We also get to hear Phoenix's interpretation of the Joker's infamous laugh for the first time, and Mark Hamill (who voiced The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and several Batman games), would be proud.

And while some may have had their doubts about Phoenix's ability to take on the role, especially as Ledger's Academy Award-winning portrayal in The Dark Knight is often deemed unbeatable, the internet was almost unanimously in favor of the trailer:

In fact, after viewing it, some people went as far as to say that Phoenix's portrayal could end up rivaling Ledger's.

Joker is scheduled to be released in the UK and US on October 4, Digital Spy reports.