The Clown Prince of Crime and Harley Quinn need you to know that what the world wants now could be… love.
That’s the message of the primary trailer for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which sees Joaquin Phoenix reprise his Oscar-winning function as Arthur Fleck (who later turns into Batman’s infamous foe) and conspire with Woman Gaga because the equally twisted Harley Quinn.
The darkish and gritty footage begins on the famed Arkham Asylum — the place Joker is locked up on the finish of the primary movie — as Arthur Fleck has a deranged “meet cute” with one other inmate (you guessed it, Gaga’s Harley Quinn). After the prospect encounter within the halls of jail, they fall madly, deeply in love and plan to interrupt out of their straight jackets to tackle the world past their padded cells. It brings them to the streets of Gotham Metropolis, the place they manically dance and twirl across the metropolis.
“I’m no person. I haven’t finished something with my life like you’ve,” Harley Quinn, dressed down in sweats, tells Joker as she makes a finger-gun gesture and mimes taking pictures herself within the head.
The primary movie served as a moody origin story for the Joker, who’s portrayed on this cinematic universe a reclusive, struggling slapstick comedian and part-time clown. Within the sequel, he takes his act on the highway and performs on every kind of phases with Harley Quinn as his demented muse — and she or he’s carrying his signature make-up, smeared lipstick and all. This time round, although, Arthur Fleck doesn’t appear so lonely.
“I’ll inform you what’s modified,” Joker says within the trailer. “I’m not alone anymore — that’s what we needs to be speaking about!”
The trailer ends with Harley at Arkham Asylum as she attracts a cheerful face with pink lipstick on the glass partition between her and Joker. “I wish to see the true you,” she tells him.
Director Todd Phillips debuted the footage at CinemaCon, the annual conference for movie show homeowners. Though the unique 2019 “Joker” was billed as a “one-off,” Phillips stated he and Phoenix at all times talked about making a sequel.
“We beloved the character of Arthur an excessive amount of, however we didn’t wish to jinx the [original] film,” Phillips stated. “We forged Gaga as a result of she’s magic.”
Little is thought concerning the precise plot of the sequel, which is reportedly a jukebox musical. Phillips stated that categorization isn’t solely correct, although it is going to characteristic loads of tune and dance numbers. Within the trailer, they waltz throughout rooftops and thru Gotham Metropolis to notes of “What the World Wants Now Is Love.”
“I prefer to say it’s a film the place music is an important component,” says Phillips. “It doesn’t veer too removed from the primary movie. Arthur has music in him. He has a grace to him.”
Earlier than introducing the trailer, Phillips thanked the room of theater homeowners for taking part in “Joker” on the massive display regardless of experiences that the grotesque, blood-soaked movie would encourage violence.
“A few month earlier than the primary ‘Joker’ got here out, the narrative on the movie actually turned and there [were] these weird warnings concerning the film,” he stated. “It was wonderful that exhibitors didn’t budge an inch, and when the film got here out, it did big enterprise. That perspective was an enormous motive for our success.”
As Phillips alluded, “Joker” grew to become an enormous blockbuster with $1 billion on the international field workplace. It grew to become the primary R-rated movie to move the billion-dollar mark and earned 11 Oscar nominations, together with finest image.
“Joker 2” will debut on the massive display on Oct. 4, 2024 — precisely 5 years after the primary movie. The unique price $62.5 million to supply, an unusually conservative funds for a comic book e book adaptation. Given its runaway monetary success, the follow-up was granted a a lot extra substantial $200 million price ticket.
The sequel will display within the Imax 70mm format. Though it was shot with Imax-certified lenses that modify digital cameras and never its movie cameras, the corporate has created not less than 10 movie prints of “Joker: Folie à Deux” to play in choose worldwide areas.
Footage of “Joker” debuted as a part of Warner Bros.’ presentation to exhibitors. The studio additionally has “Beetlejuice 2,” “Horizon: An American Saga” and “Mad Max” prequel “Furiosa” on its 2024 slate.