The original Joker film released in 2019 played as a kind of indie origin story for the “Clown Prince of Crime.” So, it makes sense to cast one-time indie staple Catherine Keener to its sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. The specific role she’s playing has not been stated.
One of the DC films to survive Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s scythe is scheduled for release on Oct. 4, 2024. Joaquin Phoenix will star in the titular role; Lady Gaga is co-starring as Harley Quinn, while Zazie Beetz (Atlanta, Deadpool 2) is also expected to return to the cast as Sophie Dumond. Brendan Gleeson recently joined the ensemble, as well.
According to Deadline, which reported the story first, production is expected to begin in December. Todd Phillips will return as the director and wrote the sequel along with Scott Silver.
Everyone, including myself, expected 2019’s Joker to stand alongside Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin as examples of what not to do in the Batman franchise. But the film surprised everyone. Joker stands as one of the most successful comic book movies ever, both at the box office and on the awards circuit. The film is a fantastic character study of mental illness.
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Joker won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and then went on to become the first R-rated movie ever to gross $1 billion worldwide and earned 11 Oscar nominations. Phoenix followed Heath Ledger, who won a posthumous Oscar, by also winning a (his first)gold statuette for his performance.
Specific details about the plot have not been released. Folie à Deux roughly translates to “shared madness,” which may be a comment on the relationship between Gaga’s Harley and Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck. This is supported by rumors that most of the film will take place in Arkham Asylum. Fleck has been sent there after the events of the prior film.
Keener has appeared in such films as Get out, The 40-year-Old Virgin, Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and most recently in Netflix’s The Adam Project.
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Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360 News. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1
