Back in 2019, the world knew without a certain that a sequel would never happen; director Todd Phillips was adamant that his version of DC’s most renowned villain was always intended to be a standalone film. Five years later, Phoenix reprised his role as Fleck, accompanied by Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, and the film became a franchise.
Even ignoring the critical reception of Joker: Folie a Deux, it’s crucial to note that this is already a billion-dollar business with one of the most seductive character brands in DC history. So, will Joker 3 join DC’s slate of upcoming films? Here’s all we know: the studio’s position and updates from director Todd Phillips and one of the sequel’s key stars.
1. Is Joker 3 Confirmed?
Joker 3 Has Not Been Confirmed.
Given Joker’s massive box office success and the DC film’s rare Oscar triumph, you may suppose the aim was to expand into a series.
The ending of Joker set up Arthur’s transformation into the “real” Joker and Bruce Wayne’s Batman origin in this reality, and both might have expanded into a full cinematic universe that coexisted with Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe and the DCU mainline.
However, Warner Bros. and DC Studios have not confirmed any intentions for Joker 3. For more context, Todd Phillips claimed that the studio pushed for an instant sequel after Joker’s popularity despite having no previous preparations. He spoke with Cinemablend before the sequel’s release to confirm this and explain why it took so long:
“They did, like any studio would go, ‘Hey, we should do another one.’ I understand where that comes from but if you remember the timeline, COVID came rather quickly. Right after Joker or after Joker was out for a bit. And then we are all in the house. And then Joaquin [Phoenix] and I started texting each other and Scott Silver, who I write these with, we started talking on the phone every day. So it wasn’t like a eureka moment, it kind of just built and became and was born.”
In financial terms, if Joker: Folie A Deux were even a moderate success, another sequel would usually be considered. Indeed, in 2019, Phillips addressed the idea of DC Black as a home for Elseworlds-style DC projects, but even with the release of Joker: Folie A Deux, plans never materialized.
“I said, ‘This will be the first movie, and then we’ll get this director to do that, and this director to do this, and we’ll call it DC Black, and Joker will be the first film. In a weird way, it gives you two bites of the apple, of these characters.
You can do these kind of down-and-dirty character studies over here, and still do the DC Universe over there. To which they said, ‘Okay, calm down, you’re not starting a label here at Warners.”
2. What Todd Philips Has To Say About Joker 3?
To further add to the situation, Todd Phillips spoke to Variety to confirm that he too, has no plans to make Joker 3:
“It was fun to play in this sort of sandbox for two movies, but I think we’ve said what we wanted to say in this world.”
That reaffirmed what he’d said at Venice, where the film debuted:
“I don’t want to speak for Joaquin, but for me, the story of Arthur/Joker has been told. I can’t say yes or no, but it’s not necessarily my goal to stay in this space.”
Inevitably, it’s prudent to consider that Phillips said the same thing in 2019, confirming no plans for a sequel: “We have no plans for a sequel. “[I’ve said], ‘I will do anything Joaquin wants.’ And I would. But the movie’s not set up to [have] a sequel. We always pitched it as one movie, and that’s it.”
At the Venice Film Festival, Phillips addressed the belated sequel and provided some context for why Joker: Folie A Deux was made: “We had joked about doing one all the time, but if we were really going to do it, it had to scare him the way the first one did.” The notion did not exist initially, but it appeared years later.
Joker 3 would be more challenging given the ending of Joker: Folie A Deux, but even without Todd Phillips’ involvement, if the box office demands more and the appropriate idea presents itself, who knows? Phillips stated that he could not clearly say yes or no save to rule himself out of consideration.
3. Joker 3 Cast: Who Could Return?
To answer the main question right away, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck dies in the final shot of Joker: Folie A Deux due to Connor Storrie’s “Young Inmate” (not Ricky, who is played by Jacob Lofland, contrary to some claims). It is improbable that he will return for a sequel, unless he appears as an apparition or projection in the damaged mind of someone.
Other cast members from Joker: Folie A Deux may return for a sequel if DC Studios decides to develop one. Storrie’s character, who appears to become a new version of the Joker, would be the most logical.
He’s nearly completely unknown (an inspired casting choice), having featured in various short films and supporting roles, most recently in 2023’s Riley.
Alongside him, Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn survives, and there is a path to her potentially linking up with the new Joker as a fellow radicalized “fan” of Arthur. Lady Gaga is open to the idea, too, having told Hits Radio that she feels like there’s more to say with Harley: “I definitely don’t feel done with Lee as a character. She’s got so much to say. What an interesting gal.”
Harvey Dent, played by Harry Lawtey, may also return, albeit severely injured, and both Brendan Gleeson’s Arkham guard Jackie Sullivan, and Arthur’s lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), survive.
Sullivan slays Arthur’s admirer Ricky (Lofland) and cannot return, but Zazie Beetz’s Sophie Dumond can if called upon.
4. Joker 3 Story Details: How Folie À Deux Sets Up A Sequel?
Both Joker and Joker: Folie A Deux are fundamentally concerned with the dangers of radicalization. Arthur becomes a type of false idol and a symbol for Gotham’s revolution against its corrupt privileged class, idolized by Harley Quinn, Ricky, and the Young Inmate who eventually murders him.
His death, however, is insignificant due to the potency of his symbol, as seen by the killer’s effective adoption of the Joker’s image for himself.
While the studio has been silent so far, and Todd Phillips has stated that he would not return, there is a possibility that the finale of Joker: Folie A Deux will set up the story of Arthur’s legacy in Gotham.
Connor Storrie’s new Joker effectively takes the Joker’s symbology due to his disappointment in Arthur ushering in a dangerous new age for Gotham, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially without a fully developed Batman to bring justice.
Harley potentially aligning herself with the new Joker makes sense, as she is obsessed with the idea of the Joker rather than the reality of Arthur. In that regard, her pursuit of another radical cause, particularly one that contradicts Arthur’s admission in his concluding remark that Joker is a fantasy, has the potential to advance her tale.
The explosion in the courtroom also provides an alternative genesis tale for Harvey Dent’s metamorphosis into Two-Face. While the bomb does not noticeably disfigure his face – certainly not to the degree of the DC Comics version – a sequel could explore his transformation into Two-Face due to his trauma in Joker: Folie A Deux.
4. About Joker: Folie á Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is a 2024 American musical psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay co-written with Scott Silver. Loosely based on DC Comics characters, it is the sequel to Joker (2019), and stars Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the Joker, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as his love interest Harley Quinn.
Joker: Folie à Deux premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 4, 2024.
Plot: Arthur Fleck is in custody at Arkham Asylum awaiting trial for a series of murders he committed as the Joker two years earlier. In music therapy, Arthur meets fellow patient Lee Quinn, who reveals she was imprisoned after burning down an apartment.
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