It's the film Joaquin Phoenix won his first Oscar for as Best Actor. Now, the anticipated follow-up to the 2019 hit Joker has a release date and a confirmed co-star: Lady Gaga.
Todd Phillips will return to direct the project, titled Joker: Folie a Deux. It's a reference to the French medical term regarding a mental disorder of psychosis that is passed on from one person to another.
Joker followed the life of the tortured wannabe comedian Arthur Fleck, whose feelings of being downtrodden by society ultimately transform him into the infamous criminal mastermind.
The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, though it did not win either. While Joker was originally intended to be a stand-alone movie, its success at the box office as well as with critics have led to an obvious sequel.
Here’s everything we know about it so far.
When will 'Joker 2' be released?
Warner Bros has announced it will be released on October 4, 2024.
Who is in the film?
So far, Phoenix is the only known cast member to be returning from the first feature and was seen reading the script for the sequel in an Instagram post by Phillips. However, he will be joined by Lady Gaga — she and Phillips both shared a video teaser on social media confirming her role.
The clip shows silhouetted figures of Joker and Harley Quinn dancing together, their characters are interspersed with the words "Phoenix", "Gaga" and the film's name in bold letters.
In June, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Gaga was in early talks for the film. No other details have been released about other cast members.
What is the plot of 'Joker 2'?
So far, few details are known about the film. However, The Hollywood Reporter also reported sources citing the sequel will be a musical, which would make sense to cast Gaga as the lead opposite Phoenix.
Gaga was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in A Star in Born (2018). However, she won Best Original Song for Shallow, which she co-wrote and performed in the film.
She joins an extensive array of actresses who have played the character, including Margot Robbie, who starred as the "Crime Queen of Gotham City" in the 2020 film Birds of Prey as well as Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021) the following year.
Deadline has reported how production on the Joker sequel will start in December.
14 of the most incredible actor transformations in film — in pictures
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Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose that drastically changed her appearance when she took on the role of writer Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours.' Photo: Paramount Pictures -
Charlize Theron in a scene with co-star Christina Ricci in 'Monster.' Theron's face was airbrushed with layers of translucent washes of tattoo ink to change the texture of her skin to appear like real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Photo: Newmarket Films -
Tilda Swinton's transformation into Dr Jozef Klemperer for 'Suspiria' included prosthetics, makeup and a full bodysuit. Photo: Amazon Studios -
For his role in 'House of Gucci', Jared Leto wore a three-piece bald cap to cover his hair, facial prosthetics and a bodysuit. Photo: Universal Pictures -
Tom Hardy was transformed into legendary mobster Al Capone in 'Fonzo' through facial prosthetics and a bald cap and wig for a receding hairline. Photo: Vertical Entertainment -
It took a team of makeup artists 11.5 hours the first time they transformed Emmy Rossum into Angelyne in the TV series based on her life, using wigs, bodysuits, lenses, and a breastplate. Photo: NBC Universal -
Christian Bale gained more than 18kg and spent between four to eight hours a day in makeup for his role as Dick Cheney in 'Vice.' Photo: Annapurna Pictures -
Jessica Chastain committed to sitting for one to two hours a day to be fitted with cheek appliances and prosthetics, to resemble televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye'. Photo: Searchlight Pictures -
Colin Farrell spent three to four hours to become the Penguin in 'The Batman'. Photo: Warner Bros -
Along with dyeing and cutting her hair, Rooney Mara got real piercings on her face for her role in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' Photo: Columbia TriStar -
Matthew McConaughey gained more than 18kg and was fitted with a balding toupee for his role in 'Gold'. Photo: Dimension Films -
With shaved brows, a red wig and a prosthetic nose, Margot Robbie is unrecognisable as Queen Elizabeth I in 'Mary Queen of Scots'. Photo: Focus Features -
Sean Penn with co-star Julia Roberts in a scene from 'Gaslit.' Penn wore a full prosthetic face that included cheek and noses pieces to play former US Attorney General John Mitchell. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle
— Reuters contributed to this report
