Warner Bros has released the first trailer for “The Joker: Folie à Deux.” The sequel, directed by Todd Phillips, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular Clown Prince of Crime. While its predecessor drew inspiration from the likes of Martin Scoreses’s “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy,” the latest entry is leaning towards being a musical. So in order to build upon that, it’s bringing in Oscar and Grammy-award winner Lady Gaga to play Harley Quinn. 
The first “Joker” was a darker and more hard-boiled take on the character. It would distance itself from the usual cheesy Batman villain we know to tell a violent origins story. Though I wasn’t a fan of the film, it garnered critical and commercial acclaim. Not only did Phoenix win the Academy Award for Best Actor, Hildur Guðnadóttir won Best Original Score. Additionally, “The Joker” also pulled in 1.074 billion USD globally at the box office. So it stands to reason that WB would want to pursue a sequel.
Now, how to make it stand out so its something refreshing while a continuation of the story that made it so renowned. That means putting a few twists on the Harley and Joker dynamic. It seems that instead of portraying Harley Quinzel as a doctor, the teaser trailer is hinting that she is a patient. In the comics, the doctor tries to treat the Joker, who was serving time for his various crimes at Arkham Asylum. However, instead of treating him, she falls in love, and eventually, the two become the the twisted DC verison of Bonnie and Clyde.
Zazie Beetz also reprises her role from the first film, while Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener also star.
Written by Philips and Scott Silver, “The Joker: Folie à Deux” opens in theaters on October 4, 2024
