Fans were ecstatic when it was confirmed there would be a Joker sequel with Joaquin Phoenix set to reprise his role. And now Lady Gaga has confirmed – after months of speculation – that she will also star in Joker 2, which apparently is going to be a musical.
In early June, Joker director Todd Phillips took to Instagram to confirm that there will be a sequel to his 2019 film. Phillips also confirmed that Joaquin Phoenix would be reprising his role as the titular character.
And days after Phillips made the Instagram post, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Grammy and Academy Award-winner Lady Gaga was in talks to star alongside Phoenix in the Joker sequel – titled Joker: Folie à deux.
Finally, Gaga has confirmed on social media that she will indeed appear in Joker 2.
Looking at her teaser video, it seems that Gaga will play Harley Quinn, the Joker’s sidekick and love interest who debuted in Batman: The Animated Series, and then appeared in numerous DC comics.
Harley Quinn being introduced in the Joker sequel does make a lot of sense considering the film’s title Folie à deux – literally means ‘madness for two’ and, arguably, no other characters in the DC comics are quite as mad as Joker and Quinn.
Plus, as Joker ended with Arthur Fleck a.k.a Joker in Arkham Asylum, the sequel could easily pick up where the first film ended and follow Quinn’s origin story from the comics – Quinn was Joker’s psychiatrist at Arkham but then fell in love with him.
Will Joker 2 be a musical?
Apparently so! Once again, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Joker: Folie à deux will be a musical. This is quite surprising considering how grounded and gritty the first Joker was; although it explains why Gaga has been cast – she’s an accomplished singer and previously starred in the insanely successful musical A Star Is Born.
Plus, Phillips was actually a producer on A Star is Born too, making him the perfect candidate to turn his upcoming Joker sequel into something a little more sing-a-long.
To be perfectly honest though, we can’t really imagine Joker: Folie à deux as a musical. It’s such an extreme genre switch from the first film. That said, most of us were certain there’d never be a Joker performance that would rival Heath Ledger’s, and Joker and Phoenix certainly proved us wrong… Maybe they’ll surprise us again.
Joker 2 Release Date
Joker: Folie à deux will be released on the 4th of October 2024.
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