Leading up to the release of “Joker,” the talk of any potential sequels was really squashed by director Todd Phillips, who said that this film was constructed as a “one and done” situation. However, with the ravenous support from fans and the critical acclaim for Joaquin Phoenix’s performance and the box office records, you know that Warner Bros. is definitely putting some feelers out for a potential sequel. And for Phoenix, the idea isn’t as far-fetched as you might think.
Speaking on “Popcorn with Peter Travers,” the actor was asked a seemingly easy question about whether or not “Joker” would be described as a “dream role.” Phoenix gave a great answer, and in his explanation of his response, he hinted that another round of “Joker” could be a possibility.
“You know, I wouldn’t have thought about this as my dream role. But now, honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it,” admitted Phoenix. “I talked to Todd a lot about what else we might be able to do, in general, just to work together, but also specifically, if there’s something else we can do with Joker that might be interesting. So, it ended up being a dream role. It’s nothing that I really wanted to do prior to working on this movie.”
After Travers brought up the fact that even Phoenix hinting at a sequel is a huge departure for a guy who previously turned down the starring role in “Doctor Strange” due to the contractual obligations of sequels, the actor explained why “Joker” is different.
“I don’t know that there is [more to do],” said Phoenix. “Me and Todd would still be shooting now if we could, right? Because it seemed endless, the possibilities of where we can go with the character.”
READ MORE: Michael Moore Calls ‘Joker’ An “Important Movie For An Important Time”
If you listen closely, you can hear the beep-beep of a dump truck backing into Joaquin Phoenix’s driveway, with WB delivering a mound of cash on his doorstep. There’s no way that “Joker” goes on to make $96 million opening weekend (beating the studio’s ‘Avengers’-esque superhero blockbuster “Justice League”) without the studio seriously brainstorming about what comes next for the character. And if there’s even a hint that Phillips and Phoenix would return, that might just be the opening WB needs to swoop in and make a quick deal.
The only question that remains is which film in Martin Scorsese’s filmography is next for Phillips to remake for “Joker 2?” (Relax, it’s a joke.)