I can’t be 100% sure how legit this is. It does come from a source who has been right before, but it’s kind of fun to believe that THIS is what Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga have in store for us with “Joker 2: Folie à Deux.”
I wasn’t too keen on the idea of a sequel being made. This could change my mind. The legitimacy of what I’m about to post might reside with this “insider” claiming that Lady Gaga does NOT play Harley Quinn.
Obviously, SPOILERS beware:
Some details about Joker 2... so the script has been floating around for the last few weeks among industry people and some of the people around me have read it -- here's what I 100% know is in the script -- Arthur Fleck (Joaquin) escapes prison/asylum and goes on a killing rampage before meeting Lady Gaga's character (who is NOT Harley Quinn. I don't know where the media got that from) who is extremely deranged as well... but in her own way. The dynamic between the two is not a straightforward romance. It's more of a Tom & Jerry type situation. If this script is anything to go by, the film is 50 times more violent than any other mainstream comic-book movie we've seen. The body-count is through the roof, and the deaths are extremely gruesome. There's multiple decapitations, torture scenes, a castration (!!!), bombs going off, and a very CLOCKWORK ORANGE style rape scene, with the victim ending up dead. The "Singing in the Rain" rape scene from A Clockwork Orange is the best way to describe the "musical" aspect of this film. It's not a "La La Land", "A Star Is Born" type musical at all, and will make all traditional fans of the musical genre walk out of the theatre. It also won't be the type of music they're expecting from Lady Gaga at all. I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but let's just say there is not much of a possibility for a third Joker movie. This movie will blow people's minds if it's shot well. The script is shocking and doesn't even feel like a big-budget franchise movie. No way this gets a PG13 rating. Let's hope the studio doesn't interfere too much.
It’s obvious Phillips wants to push buttons, he did just that with 2019’s “Joker.” How to one-up that movie? Well, the above is definitely one way to do that.
Filming has yet to start on “Joker 2: Folie à Deux.” The first film only took 18 months to go from being green-lit to worldwide theatrical release. If they start shooting this one in the next few months then maybe a fall 2023 release is feasible. Stay tuned.