A sequel to Joker, titled Joker: Folie A Deux, has been announced following the film’s critical and financial success in 2019. In light of the film’s latest release date announcement, Lady Gaga has now confirmed her involvement in the film through Twitter.
The video shows the silhouettes of Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) and Gaga’s persona dancing against a dark crimson backdrop. To round out the trailer, we hear The Joker’s trademark laugh as the title and release date of the film—October 4, 2024—are announced. It also appears to validate prior rumors that Gaga was in talks to star in the highly anticipated sequel with Phoenix, with the suspicion that she will portray Harley Quinn.
The joyful musical tone in the trailer suggests that Joker: Folie A Deux will be a musical, a departure from the harsh tone of the first picture. The Academy Award for Best Original Song was given to Gaga for her work in the film A Star Is Born, in which she also sang. There were no more story specifics revealed in the tweet, but it’s clear that the impending sequel to Batman: The Animated Series will have an interesting and creative perspective on the legendary villain. As the film’s production ramps up in the near future, we may expect further announcements.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the announcement of Gaga’s participation in this picture comes after the recent Warner Bros.-Discovery merger that canceled numerous projects including Batgirl. It appears like Joker’s production is proceeding as planned after Gaga’s recent announcement.
First released in 2019, Todd Phillips’ Joker was a critical and commercial triumph right away. It became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide, setting a new record. In addition to 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, the film would win two awards for Best Original Score and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Phoenix. Fans may now revisit the clown prince of crime in a way they never have before with the upcoming release of a second film.