(Updated 08/02/2024)
If you thought that the 2019 movie JOKER would be a one-and-done affair, the joke is on you. And on us, because we thought the same thing. A JOKER sequel is coming this fall!
Returning director Todd Phillips scripted the JOKER sequel, which has the unusual subtitle FOLIE À DEUX. Joaquin Phoenix returns to play the movie's title role, and another massive star will appear as well. That would be Lady Gaga. If you have some guesses about the ideal character for Gaga to play, you are probably thinking along the same lines as Todd Phillips. Here’s everything we know about JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX.
What's the Release Date for Joker 2?
Warner Bros. Pictures will release JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX on October 4, 2024.
Watch the New Trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux
It's been two years since the events of JOKER. Arthur Fleck will soon be on trial for the murder of Murray Franklin — but it seems like his inner life is more vibrant than ever. And when he connects with Lee, his music therapist at Arkham State Hospital, the volatile situation in Gotham is primed to explode.
Who Does Lady Gaga Play in Joker: Folie à Deux?
From the moment she was cast, it seemed evident that Lady Gaga would have to play Harley Quinn. Indeed, that is exactly her role, even if the FOLIE À DEUX version is, in keeping with the first JOKER movie, slightly different than other Harleys we've seen before.
Who Is in the Cast of Joker: Folie à Deux?
In addition to Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the new JOKER movie features Catherine Keener, playing Arthur's defense lawyer, and Harry Lawtey as Gotham City D.A. Harvey Dent. Zazie Beetz returns as Sophie Dumond, the woman Arthur previously fantasized as a romantic partner, and Steve Coogan plays TV host Paddy Meyers.
The cast also features the return of Leigh Gill and Sharon Washington, with the addition of Brendan Gleeson, Jacob Lofland, and Ken Leung.
What's Up With That Bizarre Title for Joker: Folie à Deux?
The "Folie à Deux" subtitle refers to a shared psychosis or mental disorder affecting two or more people, typically family members.
Since the trailer shows musical performances and other setpieces that seem to be a fantasy held by either Joker or Harley — or, just as likely, a shared delusion between the two of them — the title does not seem so unusual.
Joker: Folie à Deux Has Musical Elements
Ever since trade reports announced Gaga as being in talks, JOKER 2 has been described as a musical. The question has been: What does that mean? Now we know that JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is described as a "jukebox musical" — in other words, a musical that relies on existing songs rather than new tunes. We hear that about 15 well-known songs are in FOLIE À DEUX. We just don't know what that means for the movie's overall structure.
One thing is for certain, however: This will be a bigger and more expensive movie than the original. JOKER was unusual in that it was a relatively budget-friendly comic book movie. But with musical numbers to produce, even if they are low key, this will be a more complicated movie to make. Consequently it might also look "bigger" than the original, though that's a pretty vague concept that a trailer will quickly reinforce or dispel.
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX opens on October 4.
All images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.