Joaquin Phoenix is set to reprise the DC’s most intriguing character on-screen, with pop star Lady Gaga playing his love interest in Joker 2. However, DC fans can’t stomach the latest update on the musical that will surely startle many enthusiasts.
It has been reported that Joker 2 will have around 15 cover songs, and the update isn’t blowing fans away. Compared to the first triumphant film with a 55-60 million budget, the sequel is worth three times as much. The report also suggests that Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir will again incorporate her standout and stripped-back score into Joker 2.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker 2 Will Reportedly Have 15 Cover Songs: DC Fans Aren’t Delighted
While many of us anticipate Joaquin Phoenix‘s return as the Clown Prince of Crime and the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, hardcore DC fans didn’t seem to be overjoyed with the latest news about the upcoming musical. As reported by Variety, Joker 2 or Joker: Folie À Deux will be “mostly a jukebox musical” with almost 15 cover songs.
The exact details about the “very well-known” songs are not disclosed, but it’s claimed that Joker 2 will include That’s Entertainment from the 1953 musical The Band Wagon as one of the 15 covers. However, fans didn’t express any excitement about this news, as they believed Warner Bros. is spending too much on this musical, compared to the first film, which made over $1 billion (via Box office Mojo) despite its comparatively low budget.
from a 60m dollar masterpiece movie to a 200m dollar musical
— Pyo 5️⃣ (@mrpyo1) March 22, 2024
We can tolerate 3-4 songs in a movie. But 15.
— Umananda Aribam (@UMNND) March 23, 2024
That sounds awful
— BullsKickAss (@Bullskickass) March 22, 2024
Joker 2 is about to flop harder than The Marvels.
— Chain (@ChainFeeds) March 22, 2024
A musical? I’m going to skip it then
— Pavan (@Pavaaannnn) March 23, 2024
15 cover songs in a single movie is kinda crazy ngl…
— Berserker (@GeoohhM) March 23, 2024
The upcoming sequel results from the highly successful Joker, which also won Joaquin Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor and Guðnadóttir for Best Original Score. Joker 2 has a star-studded cast, and just as the musical’s budget, the salaries of the leading actors are also insane. According to Variety, the Poker Face singer and the Napoleon star are being paid $12 million each.
Joker 2 Director Todd Phillips Reveals When The Musical’s First Trailer Will be Released
This time, Joker 2 will not only feature DC’s most deranged villain and his crazy acts but also his equally insane lover Harley Quinn. The musical will depict how the two most complex characters fell in love at Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum.
Director Todd Phillips kept fans updated with his film’s progress through social media, and last month, a fan enquired about the trailer through comments on his Instagram post, to which Phillips said:
“Been getting this question a lot. The movie comes out in October. So our first teaser won’t be out until mid-April.”
This means that Joker 2‘s trailer is set for next month, and fans will finally catch a glimpse of Phoenix’s film. Before Lady Gaga secured Harley Quinn’s role, Margot Robbie played it in Suicide Squad. Considering the Barbie star’s performance, fans expect a phenomenal portrayal from the singer.
Joker 2 will come out on October 4, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Is Joker 2 a musical?
Yes, Joker: Folie a Deux was reported to include around 15 musical numbers, most of them covers of pre-existing songs, blended into the story of Arthur Fleck and Lee Quinzel, played by Lady Gaga. Composer Hildur Gudnadottir, who won an Oscar for the first film’s score, returned to work on the sequel’s music alongside the musical sequences.
What was Joker 2’s budget compared to the first movie?
Joker: Folie a Deux reportedly had a production budget of around $190-200 million, more than triple the roughly $60 million budget of the original 2019 Joker. The significant budget increase, combined with its musical format, drew mixed reactions from fans online who compared it to the first film’s leaner, more grounded approach that grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
When did Joker 2 release and who stars in it?
Joker: Folie a Deux was released in theaters on October 4, 2024, following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Joaquin Phoenix returned as Arthur Fleck alongside Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel, a version of Harley Quinn. The film was directed by Todd Phillips and set within Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum, exploring the characters’ developing relationship.
