The second part of Joaquin Phoenix’s hit movie Joker has been officially confirmed, with director Todd Phillips revealing its intriguing title.
Phillips, who directed and co-wrote the first film, posted a cover image of the script with the new installment’s title on his Instagram profile. “Joker: Folie à Deux,” it read, revealing that Scott Silver will be his fellow co-writer.
The director also included a black-and-white photo of Phoenix, who starred in the first movie as a down-on-his-luck comedian and clown Arthur Fleck, reading the script for the upcoming film.
Neither the actor nor Phillips has revealed details about the plot. However, the expression Folie à Deux describes a psychological condition in which two or more people are affected by the same or a similar mental disorder.
According to fans and movie enthusiasts, the sequel’s title references Joke’s psychologically dependent relationships like the ones he has with Batman and his love interest Harley Quinn.
The first Joker movie, released in 2019, followed the story of Fleck, a lonely party clown who ends up falling into madness and is pushed over the brink in a crumbling 1981 Gotham City after some unfortunate personal and professional events.
Billed as a blockbuster, it became a box office hit in its release year, grossing over $1 billion and leading the 92nd Academy Awards with 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
The Joker was awarded the Oscar for Best Original Score and gave Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor.
According to Phillips, the first film was heavily influenced by Martin Scorsese’s works “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy.”
Previously, the director said he did not plan to return for a second film unless he could find “some thematic resonance” like in the first installment. However, Warner Bross hired him to write a sequel, and he asked for some time to devise the perfect idea for another Joker-led plot.
Phoenix also said he didn’t know about any plans for a Joker sequel but did reveal that there were some stories for the character worth exploring.
