Overview
You could call it a bad romance: Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix, Napoleon) and Harleen Quinzel (Lady Gaga, House of Gucci), that is. That's the certain outcome for Gotham City. For the pair themselves, it's all singing, dancing, no longer feeling alone and gleefully causing chaos — and, yes, busting out their moves on public steps, with Joker getting company in the full trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux.
When Phoenix first played the film's titular character, he became the second actor in just over a decade to win an Oscar for donning the DC Comics villain's exaggerated clown makeup and killer smile. Returning to the role in the sequel to 2019's Joker, he's now taking on the character in a film that also has musical elements. And, he has big-name company this time from someone similarly slipping into the shoes of a famed comic-book figure. Just as Phoenix follows in the footsteps of Cesar Romero (in the 60s Batman TV series), Jack Nicholson (in the 1989 Batman movie), Heath Ledger (in The Dark Knight) and Jared Leto (in Suicide Squad), Gaga treads where Margot Robbie (in Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and The Suicide Squad) has most recently as Harley Quinn.
Welcome to the Joker and Harley show, then. In this followup, the duo meet at Arkham Asylum — and yes, romance blossoms. So, it's no longer Arthur against the world, the feeling that he's taken literally so far. But everyone with even just a passing knowledge of the character knows that that still doesn't bode well for Gotham.
Behind the lens, Todd Phillips (War Dogs) is back from the first film as both director and a co-writer, the latter with fellow returnee Scott Silver (The Finest Hours). On-screen, Phoenix and Lady Gaga are joined by Zazie Beetz (Full Circle), who was also in the initial flick — plus Joker newcomers Catherine Keener (The Adam Project), Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Steve Coogan (The Reckoning).
Wondering about the musical aspects to Joker: Folie à Deux? Variety reports that it includes at least 15 songs, all covers, and may also feature original tunes. Based on both the initial teaser back in April and the new full trailer now, 'What the World Needs Now Is Love', 'When You're Smiling', 'For Once in My Life' and 'Get Happy' are among the familiar tracks.
The first Joker wasn't just a hit — standing apart from the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, where Leto played the Clown Prince of Crime, it took over a billion dollars at the global box office. And, as well as Phoenix nabbing an Oscar, the film collected the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival. Joker: Folie à Deux is unsurprisingly world-premiering in competition at the same fest.
Check out the full trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux below:
Joker: Folie à Deux releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, October 3, 2024.