The upcoming sequel to the 2019 film Joker, titled Folie à Deux, has caused disappointment among fans after it was revealed to be a musical. Starring Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the DC Comics supervillain alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, the film is set to be released on October 4. The trailer features the Joker performing a rendition of “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” leading fans to express their dismay on social media about the unexpected musical direction of the sequel.
The official trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux was released by Warner Bros. on Tuesday, showcasing Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, also known as the Joker, and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The film is described as a Warner Bros. jukebox musical featuring 15 cover songs of well-known tracks and potentially one or two original songs from Lady Gaga. The movie has been rated R for strong violence, language, sexuality, and brief nudity, and is set to hit theaters in the US and UK on October 4, 2024, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey.
The original 2019 film Joker made history as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, earning over $1 billion globally. Director Todd Phillips has been teasing stills from the upcoming sequel on social media, revealing that the film is a departure from the first installment and promises to surprise viewers. Cinematographer Lawrence Sher, who has worked on multiple projects with Phillips, praised the director for taking risks with his storytelling and expressed excitement for audiences to see the final product. The sequel is set in 1981 and follows the notorious DC Comics supervillain as he encounters Harley Quinn in a twisted romantic relationship.
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment with the news of Joker: Folie à Deux being a musical, as many had not expected the sequel to take this direction. Some fans questioned the decision to incorporate musical elements into a film that did not have a musical format in its original installment. Despite the backlash, the film is highly anticipated, and the star-studded cast, as well as the new musical elements, are sure to draw attention when it premieres in theaters later this year. The blend of crime thriller, romance, and musical elements promises to deliver a fresh take on the classic DC Comics characters and their dark, twisted world.
