Joker: Folie à Deux, the eagerly anticipated sequel to 2019’s Oscar winning, Joker, is set to premiere at the upcoming 81st Venice Film Festival, taking place from August 28 to September 7, 2024.
This is five years after Joker also premiered at the Venice Film Festival, taking home the top prize for director Todd Phillips.
According to IMDB, the film – which stars newcomer Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s titular Joker – is labeled a musical/thriller, which is interesting considering that Joker was anything but musical, with the one exception of the now notorious stairs-dance segment.
The film is said to focus around notorious Gotham City prison, Arkham Asylum, and its prisoners, including psychiatrist Harley Quinn who first appeared in the Batman the Animated Series tv show from the 1990’s. Harley Quinn’s first live action appearance came from Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad.
“I didn’t suggest Lady Gaga,” said casting director Francine Maisler. “That was Todd Philips, before me. But I will tell you, she’s really surprising, and really good. I saw it and I was really surprised.”
When asked about her own take on the character, Gaga said, “You know my version of Harley is mine and it’s very authentic to this movie and these characters. I’ve never done anything like I’ve done in this movie before, so it’s all going to be completely brand new and really fun.”
Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for his performance as Batman’s arch nemesis, following the footsteps of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Joker was the first R rated movie to gross 1 billion dollars (AED 3.6 billion) world wide, so the stakes are high for the sequel. Let’s hope it’s good.
