Following the success of Joker in 2019, it didn’t take long for rumors of a sequel to surface. Although director Todd Phillips revealed that he had been in talks about shooting a possible sequel with Warner Bros, the project was never confirmed. However, the latest reports suggest that Joaquin Phoenix will once again step into the shoes of Arthur Fleck.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Joker 2 is still in development. While the article focuses primarily on the new Superman movie, for which the studio is reportedly looking for a black director and lead, there is a mention of the Joker sequel as one of the studio’s next projects. However, at the moment there is no official confirmation from the company.
Although Joker was conceived as a standalone film with no sequel and no connections to other films in the DC Universe, the film leaves the door open for a sequel. The film ends with Arthur in Arkham Asylum, apparently escaping from a therapy session and leaving traces of blood in his wake. In addition, Joker reveals the lead character’s connection to the Wayne family and even includes a scene in which Arthur (Phoenix) meets a young Bruce Wayne, which could set up a revenge story.
Last September Daily Mirror claimed that Warner had offered Phoenix $50 million to bring Arthur back to life not only in a sequel, but also in a possible third installment. “It’s still being negotiated, but scripts are being written and Joaquin is very committed to it,” a source told the tabloid.
“They plan to make two sequels in the next four years, with a long-term commitment to Joaquin and his director, Todd Phillips, and producer Bradley Cooper. It’s all about getting Joaquin to agree to terms and the biggest paycheck of his career by far,” the insider added.
Joker was released in 2019 and amassed more than 1 billion at the worldwide box office. In addition to Phoenix, the film’s cast featured Zazie Beetz, Robert DeNiro, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Marc Maron, Shea Whigham and Bill Camp, among others. The film also became a critical success and earned Phoenix an Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award.
