JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Potential Harley Quinn Spin-Off - SPOILERS

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Potential Harley Quinn Spin-Off - SPOILERS

By all accounts, Joker: Folie À Deux marks the end of Arthur Fleck's story, but would director Todd Phillips have any interest in a standalone project focusing on Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga)?

By MarkCassidy - Oct 01, 2024 09:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Joker

Joker: Folie À Deux had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, but the movie's LA premier took place last night, and Variety caught up with director Todd Phillips on the red carpet to ask him about a potential spin-off focusing on Lady Gaga's "Lee Quinzel."

Phillips has previously made it clear that this sequel wraps-up Arthur Fleck's (Joaquin Phoenix) story, and that he wouldn't have much interest in returning for a third movie. But what about Miss Quinn?

Major spoilers follow.

When it comes to Gaga's take on Harley Quinn, the door is definitely left open for her to return and take the lead in a future film - while also carrying on the Joker's legacy. Yes, we find out that Lee is carrying Arthur's child towards the end of the movie.

Phillips became a little flustered when asked if there were any plans in place for a standalone Harley project, finally deciding on a "no comment"- type response.

“Joker: Folie À Deux finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that's always been inside him."

From acclaimed writer/director/producer Todd Phillips comes Joker: Folie À Deux, the much-anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Academy Award-winning Joker, which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office and remains the (second) highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

The new film stars Joaquin Phoenix once again in his Oscar-winning dual role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, opposite Oscar winner Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born). The film also stars Oscar nominees Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Catherine Keener (Get Out, Capote), alongside Zazie Beetz, reprising her role from Joker.

The movie is rated R for “some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity.”

Do you plan on seeing the Joker sequel opening weekend? Let us know in the comments section down below.

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narrow290
narrow290 - 10/1/2024, 9:55 AM
But why?
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/1/2024, 12:39 PM
@narrow290 - money my dear
BreakTheCode
BreakTheCode - 10/1/2024, 9:55 AM
Please just let this be the end of these terrible movies.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/1/2024, 12:39 PM
@BreakTheCode - if this is successful and given Gaga's popularity, this may keep going...
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 10/1/2024, 9:56 AM
No
DanFlashesShirt
DanFlashesShirt - 10/1/2024, 9:57 AM
….how many different harley quinn projects do we really need?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 10/1/2024, 10:03 AM
@DanFlashesShirt - technically , we have only the animated series right now after Folie a Deux but that’s it

Have no clue if/when Margot will reprise the role.
VileBlood
VileBlood - 10/1/2024, 10:02 AM
The reviews for this are not looking good.
Blergh
Blergh - 10/1/2024, 10:12 AM
I like the first one but the way this movie ends has positively killed any hype I had for it.
Forthas
Forthas - 10/1/2024, 10:14 AM
If Todd Phillips would commit himself to a connected world buidling effort he is talented enough to rival Matt Reeves. But he seems hell bent on making stories that only he wants and slapping the DC label on them to get people to pay attention to it. That is not sustainable.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 10/1/2024, 1:23 PM
@Forthas - Lauren Lefranc is out writing Matt Reeves in his own universe. Penguin shits all over the Batman.
Forthas
Forthas - 10/1/2024, 3:18 PM
We have only seen part of the Penguin series. Iwill reserve judgemnt until we get to the end of the season. But sofar she is doing great and looks to be the best writing sofar in the Reeves-verse.
satanicbatman
satanicbatman - 10/1/2024, 10:17 AM
I watched it last night. Super boring film, and this is coming from a big fan of musicals, the Joker, and movies in general.

The last two minutes are insanely cool and it wraps everything up, but the majority of the film is basically just a love letter to the first film. I dunno..maybe it was over my head, but I left the theatre feeling completely unfulfilled 😕
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 10/1/2024, 2:36 PM
@satanicbatman - we forget how impressive those old MGM musicals actually were. This has a massive budget and modern day technology and yet it is so uninventive and empty. Bland on every level possible.
AllsGood
AllsGood - 10/1/2024, 10:19 AM
NOT Looking good for Joker: Folie À Deux the Rotten Tomatoes is 63% but the Audience Reviews SUCK! Go Read for yourself.

Examples of Audience Reviews.

Compared to its first film, the plot was boring. Barely any action, too much of a musical than an actual villain movie. Terrible to sit through.

The biggest disappointment of the year.

With this Joker sequel despite being incredibly well marketed, shot and written with care the film still manages to fall flat due to the fact that the one thing not on the priority list of the crew was the fans.

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AllsGood
AllsGood - 10/1/2024, 10:35 AM
@AllsGood - ANOTHER AUDIENCE REVIEW :)

Horrible movie. Horrible song choices. When Joker starts tap dancing was the moment I should have walked out. Gaga as Haley Quinn is flat. Even the Joker is flat. The story is boring. Zero action, zero craziness. Folie a Deux means Craziness by Two. There was no craziness. This was a courtroom drama about a bipolar man. Law and Order does a better job.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 10/1/2024, 2:40 PM
@AllsGood - Horrible song choices! Despite being just another AI generated pop star, Gaga actually does have a good voice, this is just a waste of a talented singer.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 10/1/2024, 11:01 AM
Todd:
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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 10/1/2024, 11:02 AM
I mean going by that response , definitely seems like something could be in the works.

Likely see how this does B.O wise before they proceed further or not (if it is akin to the early estimates then it’ll likely not happen)

Idk how you would even continue this story unless you make it like a drama about mentally ill single mother trying to raise her child on her own but we’ll see.

Maybe she tries to mold her child into being how she wanted Arthur to be or even perhaps begins to deal with how Arthur’s legacy as the Joker has outgrown him in death etc.

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grif
grif - 10/1/2024, 11:12 AM
this is soo funny. welcome to wb folks.

so now theres the

gunverse
random dc whatever stuffverse
jokerverse
and the batmanverse
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/1/2024, 12:42 PM
@grif - what's the random DC whatever stuff verse?
Kadara
Kadara - 10/1/2024, 1:53 PM
@Slotherin - I believe that ended with Shazam/Aquaman 2.
grif
grif - 10/1/2024, 2:36 PM
@Slotherin - Bane & Deathstroke, animated shows and movies, Constantine 2, Superman & Lois Season 4, Peacemaker and more
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/1/2024, 9:49 PM
@Kadara - "I believe that ended with Shazam/Aquaman 2"

I may not be seeing comments in order or in relation to what they're response to, but what was that in reference to from me?
Kadara
Kadara - 10/2/2024, 2:04 PM
@Slotherin - Hey, I was replying to whomever said thank God this ends Marvel DC, Marvel whatever. May have been @griff I am not sure.
HAUSMAN01
HAUSMAN01 - 10/1/2024, 11:41 AM
Going to see it this weekend for myself but my reviews tend to be skewed much Like Dan's so well see
AllsGood
AllsGood - 10/1/2024, 1:36 PM
@HAUSMAN01 - Latest Audience Review.

Most disappointing movie that I can remember seeing in recent history. They turned joker into a twisted romantic musical. While the acting was decent, I didn’t go see Joker to see the musical with horrible music. I want my money back and the 2hrs of my life.
Kadara
Kadara - 10/1/2024, 1:51 PM
@AllsGood - I was turned off as soon as they announced it was going to be a musical, like how tf do you turn Joker into a musical!
sKeemAn
sKeemAn - 10/1/2024, 11:48 AM
Not even going to waste my time and money. I'll wait for Gunn's DC universe.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/1/2024, 12:45 PM
I've watched a lot of films in theaters just to give them a fair chance.
I think I'll wait for this to be available at home. I don't want to help encourage WB on this. It'll get enough off purely Gaga/Harley fans
Kadara
Kadara - 10/1/2024, 1:50 PM
@Slotherin - Probably the best thing to do based on what I've been hearing from reviews; it's pretty bad 😕
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/1/2024, 9:44 PM
@Kadara - OT: I finally watched the 2016 Ghostbusters for myself
Kadara
Kadara - 10/2/2024, 2:02 PM
@Slotherin - Thoughts?
Slotherin
Slotherin - 10/2/2024, 7:17 PM
@Kadara - it definitely suffered at times from a lack of gravity. There was often times no "straight man" or anchor to level the humor with and times they would have done better to lean into something other than a cheap joke.
With that said, I like the ghosts in it, the plot beats are fine...
It's just by the time we got to the final act, the characters mostly hadn't grown on me enough to care.
Now, with that said, I think there were good areas, even potential and the film does have reverence for the original that shows.
They could have done more with the villain but I do appreciate that he was new and not a rehash.
The chick with the glasses is more or less the highlight of the team, the Hemsworth stuff could be hit or miss, I liked that they created new gadgets and much of it did remind me of some of the cartoons.
Kadara
Kadara - 10/2/2024, 9:00 PM
@Slotherin - Oh wow thank you so much for the detailed breakdown, really appreciate it!
oliverttom
oliverttom - 10/1/2024, 3:15 PM
I sincerely hope not, I'm really not on board with GG as Harley at all.
ElricAtreides
ElricAtreides - 10/1/2024, 4:50 PM
Here's a wild prediction... The movie bombs and no sequel is made. Taking bets?

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