An interesting interview with Todd Phillips, via Variety. Phillips, who began his career in R-rated comedies, won the Golden Lion in 2019 for “Joker” and is headed back to Venice competition next month with the sequel, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’
Phillips confirms that he’s done making ‘Joker’ movies. This will be the last one. Who actually believes him? if ‘Folie à Deux’ turns out to be another billion-dollar blockbuster then you can bet Warner Bros will be pushing Phillips to helm a third one. Regardless, he says he’s done:
“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,” he says. In other words, don’t hold your breath for “Joker 3.”
Instead, Phillips, the director of “The Hangover” and “Old School,” says he wants to go back to making comedies again because the world “could use a good laugh” and “people really want comedies right now”. He’s even hinting at teaming-up with Joaquin Phoenix (“he can be so loose and funny”) on one.
“Joker 2: Folie à Deux,” a madly ambitious endeavor for Phillips/Phoenix, is set for theatrical release, including in IMAX 70MM, on October 4, 2024.