‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Will Reportedly Be a Jukebox Musical as New Details About the Movie Emerge

‘Joker’ (2019) was initially supposed to be a standalone film with no sequels. But Warner Bros. had bigger plans; they wanted it to kick off DC Black, a series of darker, more experimental movies separate from the DC Extended Universe. Director Todd Phillips showed interest in making a sequel despite the original plan. By November 2019, the sequel was officially in development. In 2023, Gunn confirmed that ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ wouldn’t be part of the mainline DCU; instead, it would be released under the ‘Elseworlds’ label, aligning with Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ franchise.

In the early stages of development, it was revealed that ‘Joker 2’ would be a musical—a bold decision, in my opinion. However, the fanbase had mixed reactions to this news. Now, industry insiders speaking to Variety provide details on the number of songs viewers can anticipate in the movie.

The movie is mainly a jukebox musical, incorporating approximately 15 covers of popular songs, including ‘That’s Entertainment’ from the 1953 musical ‘The Band Wagon,’ famously linked with Judy Garland. Additionally, there’s a chance to include original songs. However, details regarding the composers and singers remain undisclosed. Sources hint that Hildur Guðnadóttir, the Oscar-winning composer of the first ‘Joker’ film, might lend her unique touch to each song. Warner Bros. hasn’t addressed this topic.

‘Folie à Deux’ is a drama set in and around Arkham Asylum, but specific plot details haven’t been officially confirmed. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener, and Brendan Gleeson. The screenplay was co-written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver.

Recently, Variety reported that the movie’s budget has surged to $200 million, a significant increase compared to the previous installment, which had a budget of $60 million. ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is scheduled to premiere in the United States on October 4, 2024, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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