Joker 2 Release Date: Joker 2, officially titled Joker: Folie à Deux, is one of the most anticipated movies of 2024. The sequel to the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Joker (2019) will see Joaquin Phoenix reprise his role as Arthur Fleck, the mentally ill clown who became Gotham’s most notorious criminal. Joining him in the cast is Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, a fellow patient at Arkham Asylum who falls in love with him.
But Joker 2 is not your typical superhero movie. In fact, it’s not even a superhero movie at all. It’s a musical. Yes, you read that right. Joker 2 will feature original songs composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, who won an Oscar for her score for the first film, and lyrics written by director Todd Phillips and co-writer Scott Silver. The musical genre will explore the themes of madness, love, and violence that define the Joker and Harley Quinn’s relationship.
Joker 2 has already wrapped up filming and is currently in post-production. The movie is set to hit theaters on October 4, 2024, exactly five years after the release of Joker. Here’s everything you need to know about Joker 2: Folie à Deux.
Joker 2 Release Date
Joker 2: Folie à Deux will be released in cinemas on October 4, 2024. The release date was confirmed by Warner Bros in August 2023, along with the official title and logo of the movie.
The release date coincides with the fifth anniversary of Joker’s theatrical debut, which was also on October 4. Joker was a huge box office hit, grossing over $1 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. It also received critical acclaim and earned 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Phoenix won Best Actor for his performance as Arthur Fleck.
Joker 2’s release date could still change depending on the situation in Hollywood and around the world. The movie industry has been affected by the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes that have halted many productions and delayed many releases. Joker 2 has completed filming, but it could face reshoots or other issues that could push its release date further back.
Cast
Joaquin Phoenix will return as Arthur Fleck/Joker in Joker 2. Phoenix’s portrayal of the iconic villain was widely praised by critics and audiences alike for his nuanced and captivating performance. Phoenix immersed himself in the role by losing weight, studying mental disorders, and developing his own laugh for the character.
Phoenix has expressed his interest in reprising his role as Joker ever since the first film came out. He said that he had “so much fun” playing the character and that he had “endless possibilities” to explore with him. He also said that he was open to working with Phillips again on a sequel.
Lady Gaga will join Phoenix as Harley Quinn in Joker 2. Gaga is a Grammy-winning singer and an Oscar-nominated actress who has starred in movies such as A Star Is Born (2018) and House of Gucci (2021). She will play a different version of Harley Quinn than Margot Robbie’s portrayal in Suicide Squad (2016) and Birds of Prey (2020). Gaga’s Harley Quinn will be a patient at Arkham Asylum who falls in love with Joker during their therapy sessions.
Gaga was rumored to be cast as Harley Quinn since December 2020, when Phillips posted a photo of her on Instagram with the caption “Happy Birthday to this legend”. Phillips later confirmed her casting in February 2023 by sharing another photo of her with Phoenix on Valentine’s Day with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day to these two”. Gaga has also shared some photos and videos from the set of Joker 2 on her social media accounts.
Zazie Beetz will reprise her role as Sophie Dumond in Joker 2. Beetz played Arthur’s neighbor and love interest in the first film, who turned out to be a figment of his imagination. Beetz said that she was surprised by the twist and that she was curious to see how her character would be involved in the sequel. She also said that she was excited to work with Phoenix and Gaga on the musical aspect of the movie.
Other cast members include:
- Harry Lawtey as Johnny Frost, a henchman of Joker who helps him escape from Arkham Asylum.
- Catherine Keener as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who treats Joker and Harley Quinn.
- Jacob Lofland as Jason Todd, a young street orphan who becomes Joker’s protégé.
- Brendan Gleeson as Commissioner James Gordon, the head of the Gotham City Police Department who tries to stop Joker’s reign of terror.
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Trailer
The first trailer for Joker 2: Folie à Deux was released on April 1, 2024, as an April Fools’ Day prank. The trailer featured scenes from the first film mixed with footage from other movies and TV shows featuring clowns, such as It (2017), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Simpsons (1989-present). The trailer also featured a parody song called “Send in the Clowns” sung by Phoenix and Gaga.
The official trailer for Joker 2: Folie à Deux was released on July 18, 2024, during the San Diego Comic-Con. The trailer showcased the musical genre of the movie, featuring snippets of some of the original songs composed by Guðnadóttir and written by Phillips and Silver. The trailer also revealed some of the plot details of the movie, such as Joker and Harley Quinn’s escape from Arkham Asylum, their romance, and their conflict with Batman.
The trailer received positive reactions from fans and critics, who praised the performances of Phoenix and Gaga, the cinematography, the music, and the dark tone of the movie. The trailer also generated a lot of buzz on social media, becoming one of the most viewed and discussed trailers of 2024.
Plot
Joker 2: Folie à Deux will follow the events of Joker (2019), which ended with Arthur Fleck being arrested and taken to Arkham Asylum after inciting a riot in Gotham City that resulted in the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. In Arkham Asylum, Arthur meets Harley Quinn, a fellow patient who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. Harley is fascinated by Arthur’s story and personality, and soon develops an obsession with him.
Arthur and Harley bond over their shared delusions and their hatred for society. They also discover their mutual love for music and start singing together during their therapy sessions. Their songs express their feelings, thoughts, and fantasies, as well as their plans to escape from Arkham Asylum and take over Gotham City.
Meanwhile, Gotham City is in chaos after the events of Joker. The city is divided between those who support Joker’s movement and those who oppose it. The police are overwhelmed by the crime and violence that plague the streets. Commissioner Gordon tries to restore order and justice in the city, but he faces resistance from corrupt politicians and businessmen who benefit from the status quo.
One of those politicians is Mayor Thomas Elliot, who is secretly working with a mysterious figure known as The Riddler. The Riddler is a mastermind who orchestrates a series of crimes and puzzles that challenge Batman’s intellect and morality. Batman is a vigilante who has emerged in Gotham City after witnessing his parents’ murder by one of Joker’s followers. Batman is determined to stop Joker and his allies, but he also struggles with his own demons and doubts.
Joker 2: Folie à Deux will explore the origins of some of Batman’s most iconic villains, such as The Riddler, Two-Face, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Penguin. It will also feature some of Batman’s allies, such as Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, and Jason Todd. The movie will culminate in a climactic showdown between Joker and Batman that will change the fate of Gotham City forever.
Music
Joker 2: Folie à Deux will be a musical movie that will feature original songs composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir and written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver. Guðnadóttir won an Oscar for her score for Joker (2019), which was praised for its haunting and atmospheric sound that captured Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness.
Guðnadóttir said that she was excited to work on Joker 2: Folie à Deux because it gave her an opportunity to explore different musical genres and styles that suited the characters and the story. She said that she collaborated closely with Phillips and Silver on creating songs that reflected the emotions, motivations, and personalities of Joker, Harley Quinn, Batman, and others.
Phillips said that he decided to make Joker 2: Folie à Deux a musical because he wanted to do something different and unexpected with the sequel. He said that he was inspired by classic musicals such as West Side Story (1961) and Cabaret (1972), as well as modern musicals such as La La Land (2016) and Hamilton (2015). He said that he wanted to create a musical that was dark, gritty, realistic, and relevant to today’s world.
Some of the songs that will be featured in Joker 2: Folie à Deux are:
- “Folie à Deux”, the main theme song of the movie introduces Joker and Harley Quinn’s relationship.
- “Smile”, a song that Joker sings to Harley Quinn to cheer her up after a bad day at Arkham Asylum.
- “Mad Love”, a song that Harley Quinn sings to Joker to express her devotion and obsession with him.
- “Why So Serious?”, a song that Joker sings to Batman to taunt him and challenge him to a game of life and death.
- “Gotham City”, a song that describes the chaotic and corrupt state of Gotham City and its inhabitants.
- “The Killing Joke”, a song that Joker sings to Batman to reveal his origin story and his twisted philosophy of life.
- “You’re My World”, a song that Joker and Harley Quinn sing to each other as they prepare for their final confrontation with Batman.
