The first trailer provided a tantalizing glimpse at the sequel, but what else do we know about the movie? In this gallery we're rounding up all the key information on the DC sequel, including what the title means, its release date, new and returning cast members, director, writers, and more. There is quite a lot to know about the film.
Joke: Folie à Deux is DC's one and only film set for release in 2024, which puts the company in the same boat as Marvel, which has only Deadpool and Wolverine on the film slate this year. Read on to find out everything we know so far about the Joker sequel. We will continue to update this post as new information comes to light.
What is Joker 2 about?
Joker: Folie à Deux is a direct sequel to 2019's Joker, which earned $1 billion at the box office and caused a stir in some circles due to what the film had to say about society. Folie à Deux literally translates to "madness for two." In the context of the medical world, it means two people sharing a delusion, and it's likely the title connects to the story and subjects of Folie à Deux.
The first trailer shows Phoenix's Arthur Fleck/Joker at Arkham Asylum, where he was sent after his murder spree and capture in the 2019 film. (The last shot of the first movie showed Joker running through a hallway with a trail of blood behind him, for whatever that's worth). Joining him at the asylum is Harley Quinn, who seems to be charmed by Joker and is aware of who he is and what he stands for. The relationship between the two will seemingly play a major role in the sequel.
Another sequence in the trailer shows Joker and Harley dancing down courthouse steps together as a newspaper headline declares, "Joker Free On All Charges." The 2019 film revealed Joker to be a liar and an unreliable narrator, and it appears this theme may continue in the sequel with some elements being real and others invented in his and Harley's minds.
In another segment, we see Joker running down the streets of Gotham as a copycat Joker--dressed exactly like Joker from the first movie--chases after him. The significance of this sequence is not immediately apparent, however. It appears Folie à Deux, like the first Joker movie, might not be all that it seems, and fans are no doubt eager and excited to see how the story unfolds.
Who's going to be in Joker 2?
The Joker: Folie à Deux cast includes Joaquin Phoenix coming back to play Joker again, a role that won him a Best Actor Oscar. Lady Gaga plays Harley in just her latest starring role in a film following A Star is Born, while Zazie Beetz returns from the first film to play Sophie. Newcomers for the sequel include Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Steve Coogan in unspecified roles.
Is there a trailer for Joker 2?
The first trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux debuted on April 9, and you can watch it here. Presumably there will be additional trailers to come in the lead-up to the movie's release.
Who's directing Joker 2?
Todd Phillips, who directed 2019's Joker, returns to direct Folie à Deux. He also co-wrote the film with Scott Silver, his writing partner on the original film. Before Joker, Phillips was known for far less serious fare, as his directing credits included the wacky and unhinged Hangover films, as well as the raunchy comedies Road Trip and Old School. Phillips also directed 2010's Due Date and 2016's War Dogs.
When is Joker 2 coming out?
Joker: Folie à Deux comes to theaters on October 4, 2024. That is five years to the day after the original Joker movie was released on October 4, 2019.
Is Joker 2 a musical?
One of the biggest storylines around Folie à Deux has been and continues to be its reported musical elements. Initial reports suggested the film could be a full-blown musical, but it was later reported that it would only have musical elements in a similar way to the latest reboot of A Star Is Born featuring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. That film featured a lot of music, but wasn't a traditional musical like Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.
Most recently, Variety reported that the film will feature covers of 15 popular songs, in addition to original tunes created specifically for the film. Lady Gaga being the incredible singing talent that she is (she won an Oscar for A Star is Born's "Shallow" and has 13 Grammy wins), it makes sense that Folie à Deux would utilize her singing skills. The first Folie à Deux trailer also heavily alludes to singing and dancing sequences with Joker and Harley pairing up.
What is the budget of Joker 2?
Much has been said about the budget of the original Joker, which was reported to be just $55 million, a relatively low figure for a DC movie but one that made sense in context of what it was originally billed as. The film was intended to be a standalone feature that would help launch a new "DC Black" film series that would showcase popular DC characters in one-offs. But Joker had enormous success at the box office, becoming the first R-rated movie to make more than $1 billion worldwide. No movie did that before and no film has since, not even the Deadpool flicks. Joker also earned 11 Academy Award nominations, and notched two wins–Best Actor and Best Original Score.
Given the movie's massive success, Warner Bros. reportedly increased the budget significantly for Folie à Deux, up to a reported $200 million. According to Variety, Phoenix got $20 million to come back, with Lady Gaga getting $12 million to play Harley. Hollywood is full of examples of sequels that got bigger budgets that came up short in one way or another, but it's too soon to say if Folie à Deux can stick the landing with the heavily increased budget.
