UPDATE (June 7th, 2022): It’s official: A sequel to the 2019 movie Joker is in development.
On Tuesday, director Todd Phillips took to Instagram to share a photo of the sequel’s script cover. The picture revealed that the draft of the script was finalized in late May and was co-written by Phillips and Scott Silver. The script cover also unveiled the project’s working title, Joker: Folie à Deux, which refers to a psychiatric syndrome where two or more people begin to share delusions.
In the same post, Phillips also shared a snapshot of Joaquin Phoenix reading the draft, confirming that the actor is returning to play the titular role in the follow-up movie.
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ORIGINAL STORY (April 1st, 2022): Todd Phillips’ 2019 movie Joker was a commercial and critical success, so is there going to be a Joker 2?
Will there be a Joker 2 with Joaquin Phoenix?
While a Joker 2 has been rumored to be in development since the first movie grossed $1.074 billion at the worldwide box office and its star Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor at the 92nd Academy Awards, Warner Bros. has yet to officially greenlight the sequel.
Despite the follow-up film being unconfirmed, a May 2021 story from The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Phillips had made a deal to write the sequel. Fast-forward to January 2022, Heroic Hollywood reported that Warner Bros. received a draft of the Joker 2 script and was making plans to begin production sometime in 2023.
For Phoenix’s part, the actor has previously expressed interest in playing the Joker again, adding that there are more to explore with the character. He, however, pointed out that he would only do another Joker movie under the right circumstances.
When will Joker 2 come out?
If filming for Joker 2 starts in 2023, as Heroic Hollywood’s report suggests, the fans can expect the movie to have its theatrical release sometime in 2024 or later. This, of course, maybe pushed back, as different problems may arise during the production of the sequel.
In fact, a March 2022 report from The Ankler (via The Direct) claimed that the sequel has hit a snag, as the work on the script has slackened. It’s unclear what exactly the issue is, but the report noted that Phillips has not yet turned in a draft of the film. While this current delay may not have much of an impact on the production’s schedule, the project’s entire timetable could drastically change if the delay goes on too long.
What will happen in Joker 2?
Plot details for the sequel are scarce, so it’s hard to tell where Phillips may take the story next. But since the first movie wrapped up with an open ending, there are many different narratives Joker 2 can explore.
Whatever that may be, fans can expect the sequel to introduce new and familiar DC characters, possibly including a young Bruce Wayne, as many of the supporting characters from the first movie met an untimely demise.
UPDATE (August 3rd, 2022):
Joker 2 release date finally revealed
Joker 2, aka Joker: Folie à Deux, is set to open in theaters on October 4th, 2024, exactly five years after the original film. Deadline, which broke the news in August 2022, learned about the sequel’s theatrical release date from a recent update in Comscore.
Warner Bros. Discovery already had the date on hold for an untitled DC event film, so it’s not surprising to see Joker 2 get the slot.
Though the movie won’t be released until 2024, Deadline noted that production on the follow-up film is slated to begin as early as December 2022.
What we know so far about the Joker 2 plot
Though Warner Bros. has yet to release an official synopsis or description for Joker 2, sources told The Wrap that “a lot” of scenes from the sequel will take place inside the Arkham Asylum, Gotham City’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.
The main setting opens endless possibilities for the movie as the abovementioned mental institution houses most of Batman’s notorious rogues in the DC Comics.
Reports about the movie’s setting as well as the sequel’s French subtitle Folie à Deux, which roughly translates to “shared psychosis,” have led several news outlets to speculate that the film will be introducing its own version of Harley Quinn.
In the comics, Harley is also known as Harleen Quinzel, a criminal psychologist who falls in love with her patient Joker and becomes his partner in crime.
While Warner Bros. has yet to confirm whether or not Joker 2 will feature yet another version of Harley, The Hollywood Reporter published a story in June 2022 claiming that Lady Gaga was in talks to play Harley in the sequel.
Though it’s unclear whether the singer-actress completed a deal to star in Joker 2, adding her to the cast would be a great decision, as several sources told THR that the sequel is also a musical.
UPDATE (August 4th, 2022):
Lady Gaga officially joins Joker 2
After weeks of speculation, Gaga finally confirmed that she will be playing Harley Quinn in Joker 2. The singer-actress shared a teaser video for the movie to officially announce her involvement in the project. Check out the clip below:
Joker: Folie à Deux
10.04.24 pic.twitter.com/obp7T9lBFL— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 4, 2022