Todd Phillips Claims ‘Joker 2’ Isn’t a Musical—While Describing It Like One

Initially, ‘Joker’ (2019) was conceived as a standalone film with no sequels planned. Warner Bros. intended it to kick off DC Black, a series of darker, experimental films separate from the DC Extended Universe. Despite this, director Todd Phillips showed interest in a sequel, and by November 2019, the sequel was officially in development. As of 2023, James Gunn confirmed that ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ will not be part of the mainline DCU but will instead be released under the ‘Elseworlds’ label, alongside Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ franchise.

Early on, it was revealed that ‘Joker 2’ would feature musical elements, a bold and unconventional choice that sparked significant debate among fans.

A few weeks ago, Variety provided insights into the musical elements of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ The film is set to be a jukebox musical, featuring approximately 15 covers of popular songs, including the classic ‘That’s Entertainment’ from the 1953 musical The Band Wagon, famously performed by Judy Garland. There may also be original songs included.

In a recent interview with Variety, director Todd Phillips addressed the musical nature of the film. Although he stated that he wouldn’t describe it as a musical, his description seemed to align with that genre.

Most of the music in the movie is really just dialogue. It’s just Arthur not having the words to say what he wants to say, so he sings them instead.

Phillips also grapples with categorizing the movie, expressing his desire to avoid having fans be deterred by common musical clichés.

I just don’t want people to think that it’s like ‘In the Heights,’ where the lady in the bodega starts to sing and they take it out onto the street, and the police are dancing, no disrespect, because I loved ‘In the Heights.

Despite Phillips’ comments, the movie still seems unmistakably like a musical, and fans are inclined to agree.

What’s your take on this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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