A follow-up to the DC blockbuster remains just an idea at this stage
A sequel to the new Joker film is not happening – yet.
The DC origin story, released in October, recently became the most profitable comic book movie ever as well as highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
Earlier today (November 20) The Hollywood Reporter stated that Warner Bros. had officially signed off on Joker 2. Now, Deadline reports that this is false, writing “at this point there are no deals for a sequel, nor even any negotiations”. This is not to say that a sequel will never happen; rather, nothing has been confirmed to date.
THR originally reported that, after Joker‘s massive opening weekend (the film secured the biggest October box office opening of all time) director Todd Phillips spoke to Warner Bros. in a meeting about making more DC films with him at the helm.
But Deadline reports that “multiple sources said no such October 7 meeting between Phillips and [Warner Bros. film chief Toby] Emmerich occurred, and that Phillips doesn’t want to follow Joker by overseeing other DC character films.”
Why so sad? Joaquin Phoenix applies the famous Joker makeup
Phillips, however, talked about a Joker sequel even before the new film was released, and has recently been discussing where a follow-up movie could go narrative-wise, telling The Los Angeles Times that a sequel would “have to have some thematic resonance”.
“It couldn’t just be this wild and crazy movie about the ‘Clown Prince of Crime,’” he said. “It would have to have some thematic resonance in a similar way that [‘Joker’] does.
Phoenix has also said that he’s open to starring in a Joker sequel, stating: “I wouldn’t have thought of this as my dream role. But now, honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it.
“I talked to Todd a lot about what else we might be able to do, in general, just working together, but also specifically, if there’s something else we can do with Joker that might be interesting.”
