Arthur Fleck will laugh again.
In 2019, Todd Phillips’ Joker landed in theaters and proved to be an international sensation, becoming the highest grossing R-rated film worldwide and yielding Academy Awards for star Joaquin Phoenix and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. A standalone origin story about the birth of Batman’s most iconic villain, the film managed to tap into the cultural zeitgeist, birthing memes, trends (has there ever been a more famous staircase?) and heated discussion.
And, it’s now confirmed, a sequel.
Joker: Folie à Deux was announced today by a brief promo video shared initially by Phillips and Lady Gaga, who will star alongside Phoenix in the Phillips’ directed and co-written film.
Joker: Folie à Deux
10.04.24 pic.twitter.com/obp7T9lBFL— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 4, 2022
The video features silhouettes of both stars alongside the familiar refrain of Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek,” a song that Gaga has covered with singer Tony Bennett. As for that title, folie à deux is a reference to a medical term regarding a mental health disorder that affects two people. Speculate on that as you will.
Along with the film’s announcement, the video also reveals its release date—October 4, 2024. That will put it roughly five years behind the original’s release, which also hit theaters in October. It’s a lot of time for Joker fans to wait…but unlike Arthur, at least they haven’t had to do it in a padded cell.
Expect a lot more on Joker: Folie à Deux when the movie enters production, but for now, head on over to the DC Community to share your thoughts on the news. Are you ready for one more dance with Phoenix’s Joker?
Source: DC Comics