‘Joker 2: Folie a Deux’: Everything we know, including release date, cast, and plot
4 min read
Warner Bros.
Todd Phillips is finally receiving his comeuppance, as the long-awaited Joker 2 – Joker: Folie à Deux — has been granted the go-ahead.
The Hangover director is returning to direct a sequel to the psychological thriller, following in the bloody footsteps of the 2019 original. Arthur Fleck, who takes on the mantle of the title Clown Prince of Crime, is also played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Joker left us with more questions than answers, but because the first film was marketed as a standalone with no ties to the DC universe, many assumed the tale ended there.
It’s not your average Batman film, and with Joker having won Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor, there are great expectations for Joker: Folie à Deux.
What is the cast of Joker 2?
Phoenix will reprise his role as Arthur Fleck, which will come as no surprise to anyone. The Joker, which was released in 2019, featured an all-star ensemble that includes Frances Conroy, Robert De Niro, and Zazie Beetz. There aren’t many options when it comes to returning cast members.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lady Gaga is expected to join the ensemble as the first newcomer. Even better, the performer from A Star Is Born may be playing Harley Quinn. According to the website, Joker 2 would be a musical, which would be a huge change from the previous films but, to be honest, something very Joker-esque.
Lady Gaga is in negotiations to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in director Todd Phillips’ sequel to #Joker. Sources say the sequel is a musical: https://t.co/8ZNJxSx7c9 pic.twitter.com/OhNjzYry0H
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 14, 2022
There’s a chance Beetz will reprise her role as Sophie, as the film’s cinematographer stated that Fleck didn’t murder her despite her unclear ending. Although the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne appear to rule out Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne, keep in mind that he is Arthur’s father.
Because of the film’s unreliable narrator, there’s a chance De Niro’s Murray Franklin wasn’t shot on live television, but we’d be astonished if he returns.
If Folie à Deux wishes to investigate the beginnings of Batman and Mr. J’s destructive relationship, Douglas Hodge could reprise his role as Alfred Pennyworth, while Dante Pereira-Olsen as a young Bruce Wayne makes sense.
What is the plot of Joker 2?
The conclusion of Joker left things on a cliffhanger. After inciting disturbances across Gotham City, an incarcerated Fleck was locked up at Arkham State Hospital at an unknown time. Fleck escaped after possibly murdering his therapist, so Folie à Deux is likely to pursue him on the run as he continues his path to becoming the Joker. The idea of a musical is also intriguing, implying that Joker 2 could follow in the footsteps of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Boys, which have all had musical episodes. It also supports the notion that we’ll delve deeper inside Fleck’s psyche this time.
There’s someone else who lives with the Joker besides Batman, and Folie à Deux is the ideal way to introduce Harley Quinn to this dark and brooding universe. Joker’s ending perfectly sets her up, just like Dr. Harleen Quinzel did at Arkham Asylum.
With Joker existing on its own, much like Reeves’ The Batman, it’s unlikely that Margot Robbie will return for Joker 2, but what if Sophie turns out to be Joker’s Puddin’? Because of the tumultuous nature of Joker’s story, it’s not completely out of the realms of possibility. If it weren’t for Beetz and Gaga, any number of A-list actors would be vying for the role of Harley Quinn.
Dafoe envisaged a plot in which someone tried to imitate Fleck’s work, transforming our tragic anti-hero into a full-fledged hero chasing down an even more crazy Clown Prince of Crime. Before the release of Joker, there were concerns regarding the age gap between Fleck and Bruce Wayne, leading to speculation that this version of the Joker would not be the one Batman would face. If you’re still not convinced, consider that the Waynes were watching Zorro, The Gay Blade, in which the real Zorro was teaching his gay twin to be the next hero.
As early as 2019, rumours of a Joker 2 began to circulate, and in May 2021, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Phillips had signed up to write the sequel. When it comes to a release date for Joker 2, your guess is as good as ours. Warner Bros. has a long list of DC films on the way, ranging from Black Adam to The Flash, which will take us well into 2023.
On Instagram, Phillips shared a photo of Phoenix reading the script, confirming that the plot is at least finished.
As early as 2019, rumours of a Joker 2 began to circulate, and in May 2021, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Phillips had signed up to write the sequel. When it comes to a release date for Joker 2, your guess is as good as ours. Warner Bros. has a long list of DC films on the way, ranging from Black Adam to The Flash, which will take us well into 2023.
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
