Released in 2019, DC's Joker movie stormed both the box office and the Oscars, claiming Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix's tortured title portrayal.
Todd Phillips' movie drew liberal inspiration from Martin Scorsese classics Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. In the process, Joker reconfigured the Clown Prince of Crime's origins as something far more plausible and connected to disturbing, earthy reality.
The title of the Joker sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux, was announced on Phillips' Instagram page a while back. It's now been confirmed that Phoenix's tormented comedian-turned-super-villain Arthur Fleck will be storming the screen again in autumn 2024.
Phillips is back behind the camera and Lady Gaga is set to have a prominent role in the movie. It's far too early to tell as script details are under wraps and we're still more than two years away from release. Gaga has confirmed her role in the movie with the following Twitter video announcement.
Joker: Folie à Deux
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 4, 2022
10.04.24 pic.twitter.com/obp7T9lBFL
'Folie a Deux' translates as 'madness for two', so could we be seeing a brand new cinematic union between Phoenix's Joker and (whisper it) a Gaga iteration of Harley Quinn? Given their comic book history, there's plenty for Phillips to play with.
Given Lady Gaga's involvement, it's naturally expected that the Joker sequel will have a musical element threaded through it. Running in parallel with Phoenix's portrayal of the Joker is Barry Keoghan's Joker in The Batman. It's currently unclear if the latter will appear in the planned Batman sequel – more news as we get it.
The mercurial Phoenix will next appear in Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster's Disappointment Blvd, due for release in 2023.
Excited about the prospect of a new Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie? Let us know @Cineworld.