As a lifelong fan of DC Comics and someone who has followed the ups and downs of their cinematic universe, it’s hard not to feel a sense of disillusionment when yet another film underperforms at the box office. The latest addition to this unfortunate list is “Joker: Folie à Deux,” a sequel that I, personally, had been eagerly anticipating since the release of the first movie.
Upon assuming leadership roles at Warner Bros.’ film studio in mid-June 2021 (Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy), one of their initial choices was to proceed with a follow-up to the critically acclaimed, billion-dollar blockbuster Joker, which significantly redefined what comic book films could accomplish.
Nearly all crucial agreements were already set up prior by Toby Emmerich, featuring top-tier director Todd Phillips and lead actor Joaquin Phoenix receiving multi-million dollar salaries (approximately $20 million each), and the production being assigned a sizable net budget of $190 million (the initial film cost $55 million). For Warner Bros., Phillips is an invaluable asset, as he is their resident studio talent.
After a minor detail was sorted out regarding Lady Gaga’s compensation, everything was finalized within a few weeks – her salary amounted to $12 million. As a result, she became an official member of the cast for the movie titled Joker: Folie à Deux.
Abdy and De Luca had the option to decline producing the film, but refusing such a successful project as Joker, which broke numerous box office records, would have made them the subject of ridicule in Hollywood. However, during the weekend of Oct. 4-6, everyone at Warner Bros., including the executive duo, were taken aback when Folie à Deux underperformed at the box office with a disappointing $37.8 million opening, making it the first comic book movie to receive a D CinemaScore. Phillips reportedly spent the weekend in isolation on his ranch property.
At home, the movie titled “Folie à Deux” had a lower opening than DC’s 2023 release of “The Flash” (earning $55 million) and Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels” ($46.1 million), which were both financial disappointments. It even fell short of Sony’s more affordable production, “Morbius,” which grossed $39 million during its opening.
“It is complete audience rejection,” says one source close to the film.
In foreign territories, the movie “Folie à Deux” was projected to earn around $81 million, meeting predictions yet lagging significantly behind its initial release.
Despite not setting a record for the lowest North American opening for a DC character-based movie, “Joker: Folie à Deux” has faced significant setbacks. However, it’s worth noting that few studio heads in Hollywood, with perhaps an exception like Sony Pictures’ Tom Rothman, would have declined the opportunity to produce a sequel to a film that was both financially and critically successful. Interestingly, Abdy and De Luca were instructed by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to replenish a depleted lineup following the studio’s Project Popcorn fiasco, which had strained relations with talent by releasing its entire 2021 schedule simultaneously on streaming service Max. Additionally, Zaslav is eager to maximize the company’s intellectual property utilization.
One prominent producer and investor asserts it was a shared mistake, yet justifiably so, they say, as Phillips is an exceptional filmmaker who has generated vast sums for Warners between the initial release of the Joker and The Hangover films,” is one possible way to rephrase the original statement in natural and easy-to-read language.
Nevertheless, viewers continue to ponder the mystery of how De Luca and Abdy managed to oversee a movie that deviated so significantly from what the audience desired or anticipated.
Phillips was granted unprecedented creative freedom and the final say in his movie. There were no preliminary viewings, but it seems this was a joint agreement between the director and Warner Bros., to protect plot secrets. This choice is somewhat hard to believe, as the film doesn’t contain many spoilers, and even movies with heavy spoilers like Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame had multiple screenings before release.
In the creation of this latest “Joker” installment, I, as a passionate fan, wasn’t directly involved with any DC executives, unlike the first time around. You see, when the idea was initially greenlit, the DC universe was in a tumultuous state, on the brink of chaos. It wasn’t until months later, after James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed to manage the division and establish DC Studios, that things began to settle down for this project.
Because Phillips primarily excelled in comedy, Emmerich initially limited the budget for the first film to $55 million and enlisted additional financiers to lessen the risk, such as Bron and Village Roadshow. According to reports from THR , Alcon, supported by FedEx magnate Fred Smith, ended up financing Village Roadshow’s share and was keen on investing in Folie à Deux. However, the Zaslav administration opted not to invest heavily and secured only one co-financier for the sequel – its partner in slate financing, Domain.
On Sunday, Warner Bros. made no efforts to disguise the film’s underperformance or imply that it might gain popularity despite being dismissed by fans – unless the audience is interested in watching it due to a sense of antagonism. They also avoided assigning blame internally, such as towards marketing, which can be common after a movie flops.
“It’s a huge disaster, but what is the fallout? Who gets the blame?” asks one source.
However, it’s been clarified by both Gunn and Phillips in recent times that they didn’t collaborate on the project. A fan questioned Gunn on social media about why the DC Studios logo wasn’t featured at the start of the movie, to which he replied, “Because it’s not a DC Studios film.” He further stated, “All future films featuring DC characters will be under DC Studios.” It’s worth noting that there is indeed a DC logo displayed during the credits. Interestingly, or perhaps as a gesture of goodwill, Gunn watched the movie at the same time as De Luca and Abdy, according to a source.
Phillips himself affirmed that neither Gunn nor Safran played a part in the film, expressing during a recent showing, “We’re cool with what Todd is doing; let Todd carry on with his work.
Gunn and Safran are keen on dissociating themselves from recent controversies surrounding Joker, past explosive events, and notably The Flash – a genuine DC title. In their endeavor to rejuvenate the brand, this is a critical mission for Zaslav.
Without a doubt, they quickly distanced themselves from “Folie à Deux” soon after assuming the role of co-studio heads. During a press presentation in January 2023, they unveiled an extensive project lineup; however, they made it clear that “Joker 2” wouldn’t be under their control and would instead belong to the Elseworlds category – a label reserved for works not connected to the shared universe of films, TV shows, and video games they are currently developing. They are collaborating with Matt Reeves on his sequel to “The Batman”, as well as the spinoff series “The Penguin” and other projects outside their primary universe.
Despite questions about whether Joker 2 is a fitting DC title, it marks the fifth flop for a movie featuring a DC character since The Batman premiered in March 2022. Recent disappointments include Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. (Although Blue Beetle underperformed last year, it wasn’t an outright flop).
Gunn and Safran aim to steer things back on course with the movie “Superman,” directed by Gunn, set for release in July 2025.
The movie has been criticized as an extravagant joke, contradicting the fans who initially supported it. Interestingly, the film concludes with a character engraving a smile onto his own face, though this scene is slightly out of focus and off-screen. Originally in the first movie, Phoenix’s Joker was supposed to carve his face in front of a cheering crowd. However, director Christopher Nolan, who worked on The Dark Knight, rejected this concept since only Heath Ledger’s Joker did so. Now that Nolan has left the studio, there were no objections to implementing this altered ending.
Initially uncertain about creating another film, both Phillips and Phoenix contemplated producing a Broadway play as an alternative. However, they eventually decided on making the movie and enlisted Gaga for a role modeled after Harley Quinn from comic books. The concept of the sequel originated in a dream with Phoenix, who then shared it with Phillips, and later with Emmerich, according to reports.
Ultimately, some people consider “Joker: Folie à Deux” as an extravagantly priced work of art. However, when asked about its target audience, a different perspective is provided: “It’s primarily for Joaquin.
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2024-10-07 23:25