DC Films' upcoming Joker, a gritty origin story for the infamous Batman villain, starring Joaquin Phoenix, won the coveted Golden Lion award at Venice Film Festival. 

In previous years, the jury-selected Golden Lion was awarded to The Shape of Water and Roma — two films that then went on to become big Acadamy Award winners.

Joker has proven to be the big critical surprise of the 2019 Venice International Film Festival. In his speech on Saturday, Todd Phillips, whose previous films include the Hangover trilogy, thanked Warner Bros for entrusting him with the DC property.

A sequel is rumoured to be in the works, as well as a film in which Phoenix’s Joker encounters Batman, played by Robert Pattinson, who was recently chosen to replace Ben Affleck. 

Luca Marinelli won best actor for Martin Eden, and Ariane Ascaride took the best actress prize for the the French domestic drama Gloria Mundi. 

Joker is scheduled to hit theatres on October 4.