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Published on August 21, 2024
From the visionary mind of Todd Phillips comes Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to the groundbreaking 2019 film that captivated audiences and critics alike. The original Joker not only shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, but it also garnered 11 Academy Award nominations, winning two Oscars, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix’s unforgettable portrayal of Arthur Fleck.
In this new installment, Phoenix reprises his iconic role, joined by Oscar-winner Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel, promising to bring an electrifying dynamic to the screen. The film continues to explore Arthur's tumultuous journey, diving deep into his psyche as he navigates love, madness, and music while locked away in Arkham Asylum. As anticipation builds, the recent release of the first trailer has fans buzzing, showcasing a bold musical twist that sets it apart from its predecessor.
In this article, we'll explore everything we know about Joker: Folie à Deux, including premiere date, cast insights, and plot revelations. Stay tuned as we continue to update this article with the latest information and news leading up to the film's release.
Release date & Where to Watch
Joker: Folie à Deux is set to hit theaters on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. The film is rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality, and brief full nudity.
It will have a limited release in 70mm IMAX, similar to Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, although specific theaters offering this format have yet to be confirmed.
Joker: Folie à Deux will premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, competing for the prestigious Golden Lion Award, which its predecessor won in 2019. The film will also be released overseas on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, before arriving in the US two days later.
Plot
Joker: Folie à Deux picks up with Arthur Fleck being institutionalized at Arkham Asylum, facing trial for his crimes as the Joker. While grappling with his dual identity, Arthur meets fellow patient Harleen Quinzel, sparking a twisted romance that draws them both deeper into madness. The film explores their chaotic relationship, with much of the story unfolding within the confines of Arkham, where Arthur and Harleen’s delusions manifest as elaborate musical sequences.
As Arthur struggles with reality and his Joker persona, the pair eventually break out of the asylum, likely aided by the Joker’s loyal followers. The sequel leans heavily into its musical elements, with Arthur and Harley performing classic songs as they navigate their shared delusions. Despite the tonal shift, Joker: Folie à Deux retains the grim atmosphere of the first film, blending a disturbing love story with the dark, theatrical world of Gotham City. The film's title, which refers to a shared psychosis, hints at the blurred lines between the couple's delusional fantasies and the real world.
Joker: Folie à Deux builds on the first movie’s exploration of Arthur’s descent into madness, now amplified by his connection with Harley Quinn. Their toxic relationship promises to drive both characters further into chaos, with the potential for a violent and destructive partnership that challenges the boundaries of reality.
Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, Gladiator, and Walk the Line) as Arthur Fleck/Joker
- Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born) as Harley Quinn
- Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Catherine Keener (Get Out and Capote)
- Zazie Beetz (Atlanta, Joker, and Nine Days) as Sophie Dumond
- Ken Leung (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
- Harry Lawtey (Industry)
- Steve Coogan (Philomena)
- Jacob Lofland (Mud)
- Gattlin Griffith
- Bill Smitrovich as Judge Herman Rothwax
- George Carroll
- John Lacy as Arkham Guard
- Tim Dillon
- Leigh Gill as Gary
- Robert Loftus as Guard
- Mike Houston as Guard
- Sharon Washington
Official Trailer
The first official trailer for Joker: Folie Á Deux was unveiled by Warner Bros on April 9, 2024, during the studio's panel at CinemaCon. Set to a cover of the classic song "What the World Needs Now Is Love," the trailer opens with Arthur Fleck attending a music therapy class at Arkham Asylum, where he encounters Harleen Quinzel. It then shifts between musical, dreamlike sequences and scenes of the chaotic havoc the criminal duo wreaks across Gotham City.
The second trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux was released by Warner Bros on July 23, shortly after the film was confirmed to premiere at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Unlike the first trailer, this one features different musical selections, opening with a slowed-down rendition of Frank Sinatra's "When You're Smiling." The trailer highlights a scene where Arthur sings Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life" to himself while watching TV and smoking a cigarette. It concludes with Harley softly singing Judy Garland's "Get Happy.”
When was Joker: Folie À Deux Filmed?
Filming for Joker: Folie Á Deux kicked off on Dec. 11, 2022. While production on the first film took about three months, the sequel required a bit more time due to its increased budget and the inclusion of elaborate musical setpieces. Filming concluded in April 2023 with locations including Los Angeles, New York City, and Belleville, New Jersey. To mark the beginning of production, director Todd Phillips shared the first official image from the sequel on Instagram.
The director returned to social media to celebrate the successful completion of filming, offering a fresh glimpse of Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel. With production wrapped, the film has now entered the post-production phase.
Why is Joker 2 Called Folie à Deux?
The film's working title, Folie à Deux, translates to "Madness of Two" in French, sparking early speculation about Harley Quinn's inclusion in the movie—speculation that was soon confirmed. The term Folie à Deux originates from 19th-century French psychiatrists Charles Lasègue and Jules Falret, also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome. It describes a situation where two or more individuals share the same delusion or madness.
Is Joker: Folie à Deux a Musical?
The upcoming sequel has been described as a musical featuring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix's characters singing. However, the details of how this plays out are more nuanced. The two characters perform well-known songs like "For Once In My Life," "That's Life," and "Get Happy."
In an interview with Variety, Lady Gaga revealed that director Todd Phillips took a bold approach with this concept, blending music, dance, drama, courtroom scenes, comedy, and a mix of emotions.
However, Phillips himself is hesitant to label the film a musical, explaining that much of the music is more like dialogue, with Arthur singing when he can't express himself with words. The musical numbers take place within the imaginations of Harleen and Arthur, not in the "real world," and were performed live on set by Gaga and Phoenix, accompanied by an off-camera pianist.
Phillips also noted that Gaga's portrayal of Harley Quinn differs from previous depictions, stripping away the high-pitched voice, accent, gum-chewing, and sassiness traditionally associated with the character.
While the film features musical performances, it leans more towards being a "jukebox musical," integrating at least 15 reinterpretations of well-known songs, such as "That's Entertainment" from the 1953 musical The Band Wagon. Although there is potential for an original song or two, no details have been confirmed.
The Oscar-winning composer of the first Joker film, Hildur Guðnadóttir, is also involved, infusing her haunting music into the film's numbers. Joker 2 is expected to break the mold of traditional musicals, blending familiar tunes with the film's unique dark and dramatic tone.
Is Joker: Folie À Deux Connected to The Batman?
Given the dark tone shared between Joker and The Batman, some fans might wonder if Robert Pattinson’s Batman could be connected to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. The 2022 film The Batman even hints at Joker’s involvement by showing a brief connection between the Riddler and the Joker, portrayed by Barry Keoghan. However, director Matt Reeves clarified in an interview with Variety that this nod wasn’t meant to link the two characters directly. He explained that including the Joker in the film’s ending was more about reinforcing Gotham’s ongoing chaos and Batman’s relentless fight against it.
As for Joker: Folie à Deux, Phillips has been clear from the beginning that his Joker films aren’t tied to the larger DC Extended Universe. When he first pitched the original Joker to Warner Bros., Phillips envisioned a standalone label called "DC Black," where directors could explore DC characters independently, without the constraints of interconnected franchises. Although Warner Bros. didn’t launch the label, they supported Phillips' vision for a self-contained Joker story.
The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, continues in this vein, remaining separate from other DC films. Even with James Gunn and Peter Safran now leading DC Studios, the upcoming Joker sequel will not be connected to the new slate of DC films. In short, Joker 2 stands alone and isn’t connected to The Batman or any other DC universe films.
Will There be a Joker 3?
The prospects for Joker 3 appear bleak at this time. With Joker: Folie à Deux poised to take the DC franchise in a daring new direction as the first major superhero movie musical, the return of Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn has sparked rumors about a potential sequel.
However, director Todd Phillips recently shared disappointing news regarding Joker 3's likelihood. Speaking to Variety, Phillips indicated a desire to move on from the DC universe, stating, "It was fun to play in this sort of sandbox for two movies, but I think we’ve said what we wanted to say in this world." This suggests that, with the transition from a gritty origin story to a musical, Phoenix’s portrayal of the iconic villain may not appear in any future DC films.
Behind the Scenes
Phillips, who received Oscar nominations for directing, writing, and producing Joker, helmed Joker: Folie à Deux, co-writing the screenplay with fellow Oscar nominee Scott Silver, based on characters from DC Comics. The film was produced by Phillips alongside Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Joseph Garner, with Lady Gaga contributing as a music consultant. Executive producers include Michael E. Uslan, Georgia Kacandes, Silver, Mark Friedberg, and Jason Ruder.
Behind the camera, Phillips reunites with his Joker team, including Oscar-nominated cinematographer Lawrence Sher, production designer Mark Friedberg, Oscar-nominated editor Jeff Groth, and Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. Joining the team is Oscar-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips (Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood, Don’t Worry Darling). Ruder also serves as the film’s executive music producer, with Randall Poster and George Drakoulias as music supervisors. Casting was led by Francine Maisler (Dune and Challengers).