Filmmaker Todd Phillips really pulled off the unexpected with “Joker.” For one, the director has been known for a lot of entertaining, fratty comedies (“Old School,” “The Hangover” franchise), but he completely reinvented himself by taking a comic book movie and turning it into a dark drama, a tragedy, and even heartbreaking character study of a mentally ill person descending into madness because of a lack of help, support, and empathy. For two, he created a massive hit with “Joker,” and the film still stands as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. And now, the director returns to this franchise with “Joker: Folie À Deux,” which already sounds like a much more ambitious film.
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Starring Joaquin Phoenix, who reprises his role as the Joker, Lady Gaga joins the cast as his love interest, Harley Quinn. Zazie Beetz also reprises her role from the previous film, and Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener are also part of the ensemble in undisclosed roles.
While ‘Folie À Deux’ has been rumored to be a full-blown musical, Phillips and some of the other filmmakers on board have suggested it only has musical sequences, trying to make some distinction and claiming the film won’t “veer too far away” from the original. And Warner Bros. has been super mum, not even having delivered a synopsis until now. That said, we do know the basics: following the murderous events of “Joker,” Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is incarcerated in Arkham State Hospital, where he meets the psychotherapist Harleen Quinzel (Gaga). Following the lead of the comic storyline, it appears that the two fall madly in love and experience musical madness through their shared delusions.
“Joker: Folie À Deux is written once again by Scott Silver (“Logan,” “Joker”) and Todd Phillips.
Again, “Joker” was a smash hit upon its release in 2019. It grossed over $1 billion, launched a new DC Elseworlds franchise for Warner Bros., and was one of the few DC projects not scrapped by James Gunn and Peter Safran, who otherwise cleared house when they took over DC Studios. The film amassed numerous awards, including winning the Golden Lion top prize at the Venice Film Festival (and it looks like it will premiere there again). Additionally, the film was nominated for three Oscars, winning two: Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix and Best Score by Hildur Guðnadóttir (who also returns for the sequel). Can “Joker: Folie à Deux” repeat that success? We’ll find out in the fall as the film is scheduled for release on October 4, 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Watch the new trailer below.