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Will Joker 3 happen after Joker: Folie a Deux? Does the world need more of the universe built on Joaquin Phoenix's controversial, transformative Arthur Fleck? Go back to 2019, and the world knew for certain that a sequel would never happen as the director Todd Phillips was adamant that his take on DC's most famous villain was only ever intended to be a single release. But flash forward five years and Phoenix returned as Fleck, with Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn in tow, and one movie turned into a franchise.
Even ignoring the critical reception of Joker: Folie à Deux, it's important to acknowledge that this is already a billion dollar franchise, and one of the most irresistible character brands in DC history. That makes the possibility of a third entry much more likely and would it allow it to do something rare for DC these days, which is reaching a trilogy. Several characters had their series stopped after two entries like Wonder Woman and Aquaman so Joker 3 joining the ranks of DC's upcoming movies would be different
Joker Franchise's Box Office Success
The First Was Lightening In A Bottle
Movie | Year | Worldwide Total |
Joker | 2019 | $1,063,574,394 |
Joker: Folie à Deux | 2024 | $206,154,126 |
Joker took the world by storm when it was released in 2019. Not only did it lead to Joaquin Phoenix winning a Best Actor Oscar, it became one of DC's highest grossing movies of all time. In fact, at the time of its release, it was the only R-rated film ever to reach $1 billion at the box office, only to be topped by Deadpool & Wolverine five years later. With it being such a massive success, all eyes turned to a sequel even if there was never one planned originally.
Fast-forward five years from the first film's release and Joker: Folie à Deux ended up taking a steep fall from the lofty heights its predecessor set. It only made just over $205 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). Despite the massive fall off, it is impossible to understate just how big of a film the first Joker actually was.
Joker 3 Has Not Been Confirmed
It Feels Unlikely That A Third Film Will Happen
Given Joker's huge billion dollar box office success and the rare accolade of the DC movie winning an Oscar, you could be forgiven for thinking the plan was to expand out into a franchise. Joker's ending set up both Arthur's transformation into the "real" Joker, and established Bruce Wayne's Batman origin in this universe, and both could have developed into a full cinematic universe, coexisting alongside Matt Reeves' The Batman universe and the DCU mainline.
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Joker: Folie à Deux Review – An Improved Sequel Engineered To Antagonize Joker Fans
It seems like Todd Philips targeted Folie à Deux directly at the audience who got a little too into Joker – and made it to antagonize them.
That said, there are currently no confirmed plans from Warner Bros or DC Studios for Joker 3. For further context, as Todd Phillips himself revealed, the studio pushed for an immediate sequel in the wake of Joker's success with no previous plans. He spoke to Cinemablend before the sequel's release to confirm as much, and to explain why it took so long:
"They did, like any studio would go, ‘Hey, we should do another one.’ I understand where that comes from but if you remember the timeline, COVID came rather quickly. Right after Joker or after Joker was out for a bit. And then we are all in the house. And then Joaquin [Phoenix] and I started texting each other and Scott Silver, who I write these with, we started talking on the phone every day. So it wasn't like a eureka moment, it kind of just built and became and was born."
In business terms, if Joker: Folie à Deux was even a relative success, another sequel would typically be explored. Indeed, in 2019, Phillips discussed the idea of DC Black as a home for Elseworlds-style DC projects, but even with Joker: Folie à Deux's release, plans there never materialized:
"I said, 'This will be the first movie, and then we'll get this director to do that, and this director to do this, and we'll call it DC Black, and Joker will be the first film. In a weird way, it gives you two bites of the apple, of these characters. You can do these kind of down-and-dirty character studies over here, and still do the DC Universe over there. To which they said, 'Okay, calm down, you're not starting a label here at Warners.'"
Todd Phillips: Everything The Director Has Said About Joker 3
The Director Has Offered Several Negative Updates
Image via Warner Bros. To further add to the situation, Todd Phillips spoke to Variety to confirm that he too has no plans to make Joker 3:
" It was fun to play in this sort of sandbox for two movies, but I think we’ve said what we wanted to say in this world ."
That reaffirmed what he'd said at Venice, where the film debuted:
“I don’t want to speak for Joaquin, but for me, the story of Arthur/Joker has been told. I can’t say yes or no, but it’s not necessarily my goal to stay in this space.”
Inevitably, it's prudent to consider the fact that Phillips said largely the same thing back in 2019, confirming there were no plans for a sequel:
"We have no plans for a sequel. "[I've said], 'I will do anything Joaquin wants to do.' And I would. But the movie's not set up to [have] a sequel. We always pitched it as one movie, and that's it."
At the Venice Film Festival, Phillips addressed the belated sequel and gave some background to why Joker: Folie à Deux was made:
“ We had joked about doing one all the time, but if we were really going to do it, it had to scare him the way the first one did ." At first, the idea wasn't there, but years later, the right idea presented itself.
Joker 3 would be more difficult, given the way Joker: Folie A Deux ends, but even without Todd Phillips' involvement, if the box office demands more and the right idea presents itself, who knows. As Phillips said, he couldn't definitively say yes or no, other than ruling himself out of consideration.
Joker 3 Cast: Who Could Return?
Joaquin Phoenix Would Most Likely Not Be Back
Image via Warner Bros. To get the big question out of the way immediately, Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck dies in the final shot of Joker: Folie à Deux thanks to Connor Storrie's "Young Inmate" (not Ricky, who is played by Jacob Lofland, contrary to some reports). The likelihood of him returning for a sequel, bar as an apparition or projection in the warped mind of someone else, is highly unlikely.
There are, however, other members of the Joker: Folie à Deux cast who could return for a sequel, if DC Studios decides to make one. Storrie's character, who seemingly becomes a new iteration of the Joker, would be the most logical. He's an almost total unknown (an inspired casting move), having appeared in several shorts and supporting roles, and most recently appearing in 2023's Riley.
Alongside him, Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn survives and there is a path to her potentially linking up with the new Joker as a fellow radicalized "fan" of Arthur. Lady Gaga is open to the idea, too, having told Hits Radio that she feels like there's more to say with Harley:
“I definitely don’t feel done with Lee as a character. She’s got so much to say. What an interesting gal.”
Harry Lawtey's Harvey Dent could also return, though he is left gravely injured, and both Brendan Gleeson's Arkham guard Jackie Sullivan, and Arthur's lawyer Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener) make it out alive. Arthur's fan Ricky (Lofland) is killed by Sullivan, so he wouldn't return, but Zazie Beetz's Sophie Dumond could if called upon.
Joker 3 Story Details: How Folie A Deux Sets Up A Sequel
The Joker Is Dead. Long Live The Joker.
Both Joker and Joker: Folie à Deux are fundamentally about the danger of radicalization. Arthur becomes a sort of false idol and a symbol for Gotham's revolt against its corrupt elite class, adored by the likes of Harley Quinn, Ricky, and the Young Inmate who ultimately kills him. His death, though, is unimportant, because of the strength of his symbol, as the killer proves by effectively adopting the image of the Joker for himself.
While the studio is so far silent, and Todd Phillips says he's not returning, there is a world where Joker: Folie à Deux's ending could set up the story of Arthur's legacy in Gotham. Connor Storrie's new Joker effectively stealing the Joker's symbolism because of his disappointment in Arthur sets up a dangerous new era for Gotham, and it would be interesting to further see the impact of that. Particularly without a fully formed Batman to restore justice.
Harley potentially aligning herself with the new Joker could also make sense: she is infatuated with the idea of the Joker, and not with the reality of Arthur. In that respect, her seeking another radical cause, particularly one in stark opposition to Arthur's admission in his closing statement that Joker is a fantasy, could develop her storyline further.
The explosion in the courtroom also offers a sort of alternate origin story for Harvey Dent's transformation into Two-Face. While his face is not noticeably disfigured by the bomb - certainly not to the degree of the DC Comics version of the character - a sequel could explore his transformation into Two-Face as a result of his trauma in Joker: Folie à Deux.
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker's lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
Director Todd Phillips
Release Date October 4, 2024
Runtime 138 Minutes
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English (US) ·