The Joker 2 release date is fast approaching, meaning there’s not long to wait before audiences can witness the Folie à Deux between Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn.
Joker Folie à Deux’s buzz has been at a 10 on the Richter scale, which isn’t surprising given the blockbuster success of Todd Philips’ gritty original film about the iconic supervillain.
A dark spin on legendary Batman villain the Joker’s origin story, the first film was a hit at the Oscars and became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.
As such, expectations for Joker 2 are incredibly high. It’s next up on our list of the upcoming DC movies, so let’s dive into it.
Joker 2 release date
Joker 2 releases on Friday, October 4, 2024, in cinemas.
Phillips marked the start of production in December 2022 when he posted a photo on Instagram. It shows Arthur Fleck/The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) looking serious as he receives a shave from an unknown figure – possibly a staff member at Arkham Asylum, where Arthur is a patient.
To see what we thought of the new movie, check out our Joker 2 review.
Has Joker 2 finished filming?
Yes — production on Joker 2 wrapped in April 2023.
Filming began back in December 2022, taking place in Los Angeles. Asylum scenes were believed to be filmed at the now-shut Essex County Isolation Hospital.
Additional scenes were also filmed in New York’s Bronx.
Is Joker 2 a musical?
Joker 2 has musical song and dance sequences, and contains the characteristics of a musical, but the cast and crew have avoided calling it as such.
In an interview with ComicBook.com, composer Hildur Guðnadóttir shared, “All I can say is there is going to be a lot of music. That’s all I can give away.”
There will probably be choreographed dancing and perhaps singing from Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, but scenes will likely be stylized in the same vein as Arthur’s stairs scene from Joker. Arthur seems off-the-wall in this sequel, so there’s a theory the musical elements take place in his imagination and nowhere else.
Even still, we’re convinced this can be classified as a musical.
Who’s in the cast?
Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga lead the Joker 2 cast as Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn.
Folie à Deux 🃏 pic.twitter.com/gEwSgsvpbP
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 15, 2023
Joker actor, Joaquin Phoenix, won an Oscar for his portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime last time around. However, many suspect it is Gaga who will take the prize this time.
Gaga herself discussed the nature of the role, saying Harleen is “really vulnerable” and “very authentic to this movie.” She added, “I’ve never done anything like I’ve done in this movie before.”
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The full Joker 2 cast list includes:
- Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker
- Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn
- Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond
- Brendan Gleeson as Jackie Sullivan
- Steve Coogan as Paddy Meyers
- Catherine Keener
- Jacob Lofland
- Harry Lawtey as Harvey Dent
- Troy Metcalf
Looking wider afield, Zazie Beetz will reprise her Joker role, Sophie Dumond, though how she fits into the film this time around is currently unclear.
Other cast members also include Brendan Gleeson (Paddington 2), Catherine Keener (Get Out), Harry Lawtey (Industry), and Jacob Lofland (The Maze Runner).
Lofland is said to be playing a fellow inmate of Arkham Asylum.
What does Folie à Deux mean?
Folie à Deux roughly means “delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association.”
With this in mind, expect Joker 2 to follow Harley Quinn and Arthur Fleck on a love-infused spiral. It’s expected that the title will heavily influence both the plot and the style of the movie.
Joker 2 plot
Joker 2 heads to Arkham Asylum, where he meets Harleen Quinzel, and the two begin a love affair.
In most DC lore, Harleen Quinzel, a trainee psychiatrist, is brought into Arkham to work with patients. She soon works with Joker, whose chaotic psyche and manipulation fascinate her. He convinces an increasingly unhinged and out of her depth Harleen to help him break out. She’s reborn as Harley Quinn, his sidekick and often abused love interest.
It looks like Folie à Deux will subvert this to some degree. Lady Gaga’s Harley already looks far gone, with a wild look in her eyes and makeup streaked on her face. This should make for a different power balance, with Philips’ version of Joker less of a monster than in the comics.
Meanwhile, a number of theories are flying around. Some believe Harley will be pregnant in Joker 2, while another theory suggests she will end up killing Arthur Fleck in a twist on the traditional dynamic between the pair. How Hotel Arkham plays into the movie remains to be seen, though it’s thought this is probably a rose-tinted view of Arkham Asylum in one of Joker’s fantasies.
Joker 2 trailer
The first full teaser trailer released on April 9, 2024.
This full trailer gave us our first proper look at the sequel and its musically-inclined story.
A second trailer was released on July 23, and teased Harvey Dent’s involvement, a major court case against Arthur, and Phoenix’s singing in the new movie:
Finally, a new teaser was released on September 18, 2024. It gave viewers more of an insight into Joker’s relationship with Harley as she says the public think he’s a “bad influence on her,” but claims they’re simply “underestimating” her. You can watch it below:
While we wait for the sequel to hit the big screens later this year, find out where you can watch all of the Batman live-action movies, when Joker died in the comics, and find out more about The Batman 2’s release. You can also find even more amazing movies to stream this month.