As a movie critic who has been following the evolution of comic book adaptations for decades, I must say that Todd Phillips‘ decision to part ways with the Joker franchise is bittersweet. The first Joker film was a masterful exploration of mental illness and societal decay, and Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as Arthur Fleck was nothing short of extraordinary.
The sequel to “Joker: Folie à Deux,” titled “Joker: Two Madnesses,” is set to entertain audiences with its music and dance this coming October. However, director Todd Phillips appears to have moved on from comic book movies for the time being, making a third Joker film under his direction unlikely. The story unfolds two years after the 2019 “Joker,” with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as Arthur Fleck and Todd Phillips introducing Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn in this new installment. Together, they aim to rally Joker’s followers to release him from Arkham State Hospital.
I’ve enjoyed creating within this sandbox for two films, but I believe we’ve expressed everything we intended to in this particular universe.
Although Todd Phillips has concluded his work on the series, it doesn’t necessarily imply that the Joker franchise will cease production altogether. If the upcoming film “Joker: Folie à Deux” performs well at the box office, Warner Bros. Pictures might consider appointing a new director to continue the story of Arthur Fleck. A fresh perspective could breathe new life into the character. However, given the close collaboration between Phillips and Phoenix in shaping Joker’s character, it’s highly unlikely that Phoenix would reprise his role without Phillips involved. This would necessitate finding another actor capable of matching Phoenix’s performance, a task that might not be met with enthusiasm by audiences.
Joker 2 Was Originally Conceived as a Broadway Production
The trailer for “Joker: Folie à Deux” has made it clear that this movie will have a strong emphasis on music, given Lady Gaga’s involvement. But did you know that the original concept for the project wasn’t a theatrical release as planned for October 4th? Instead, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix were initially considering a Broadway sequel, but those plans were scrapped due to COVID-19.
“Upon further consideration, we discovered that approximately four years are needed for creating something similar. Considering Joaquin’s commitment, would he dedicate six months each year to perform it nightly on stage? We then considered staging it at the Carlyle as a more intimate production. However, COVID-19 intervened.”
The concept of transforming “Joker” into a musical remained steadfast. Phillips mused, “Why do something if it doesn’t frighten you?” As “Joker: Folie à Deux” appears to be causing quite a stir due to its musical nature, which wasn’t the expected route for a sequel, it seems the director found this an intriguing risk worth taking. Phillips expressed, “I have a fascination with risk. It’s what keeps me awake at night, causes hair loss. But it’s that sweat that drives you forward.”
Is it likely that all the singing and dancing in Joker: Folie à Deux will yield rewards when it premieres in October? That’s still uncertain, but one fact is clear: it promises to be an extraordinary finale, wrapping up Phillips’ contribution to the story… temporarily.
The film titled “Folie à Deux” by Joker is set to have its first public screening at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on the 4th of September. A nationwide theater release will follow a month later, on the 4th of October.
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2024-08-20 21:31