In 2019, it seemed certain that a sequel to the acclaimed film would never occur; director Todd Phillips strongly asserted that his interpretation of DC’s iconic villain was always envisioned as a standalone project. Fast forward five years, and Joaquin Phoenix has reprised his role as Arthur Fleck, teaming up with Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, thus launching a new franchise.
Regardless of the critical reception surrounding Joker: Folie à Deux, it’s important to acknowledge that this franchise is already a billion-dollar enterprise boasting one of the most alluring character brands in DC history. So, will Joker 3 enter DC’s lineup of future films? Here’s everything we currently know, including insights from director Todd Phillips and one of the sequel’s pivotal stars.
1. Is Joker 3 Confirmed?
Joker 3 Has Not Been Officially Confirmed.
Given the phenomenal box office performance of Joker and its rare Oscar win, many anticipated a continuation of the series.
The conclusion of Joker set the stage for Arthur’s evolution into the true Joker, alongside Bruce Wayne’s Batman origin story within this universe, which could have expanded into a broader cinematic universe that coexists with Matt Reeves’ Batman universe and the main DCU.
“Like any studio, they indicated, ‘Hey, we should do another one.’ I understand that thought, but keep in mind, COVID hit right after the release of Joker. Joaquin [Phoenix] and I started texting and Scott Silver, who I co-wrote with, we consistently talked on the phone every day. So it was more of an organic process rather than an epiphany,” said Phillips.
If Joker: Folie à Deux ends up being a worthwhile success, a sequel would typically be on the table. In fact, in 2019, Phillips addressed the concept of DC Black as a platform for Elseworlds-style projects, but even with the latest release, those plans didn’t come to fruition.
“I said, ‘This will be the premiere film, and then we’ll get this director for another project, and label it DC Black, with Joker leading the way. It essentially would allow multiple interpretations of these characters. You could create gritty character studies separately while still advancing the main DC Universe story.”
2. What Todd Phillips Has To Say About Joker 3?
In a recent interview with Variety, Todd Phillips confirmed that he also has no intentions of making Joker 3:
“It was enjoyable exploring this world for two films, but I believe we’ve conveyed what we intended to express in this universe.”
This reaffirms what he mentioned during the Venice Film Festival, where the film premiered:
“I don’t want to presume for Joaquin, but in my view, the story of Arthur/Joker has been thoroughly told. While I can’t firmly say yes or no, my objective is not to linger in this space.”
It’s worth noting that Phillips had made similar statements in 2019, insisting there were no plans for a sequel: “We have no sequel plans. ‘I’ll do whatever Joaquin wants.’ And I genuinely would. However, the movie was crafted as a standalone piece.”
During the Venice Film Festival, Phillips offered insights regarding the belated sequel, explaining the rationale behind Joker: Folie à Deux:
“We often joked about a sequel, but if we were to pursue it seriously, it had to evoke the same fear in Joaquin as the first one did.” The sequel concept wasn’t in existence initially but emerged years later.
While Joker 3 would face challenges due to the conclusion of Joker: Folie à Deux, it’s possible that if the box office performance demands it and the right concept develops, a sequel could still be plausible, despite Phillips ruling out his participation.
3. Joker 3 Cast: Who Could Return?
To clarify immediately, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck meets his end in the final scene of Joker: Folie à Deux at the hands of Connor Storrie’s “Young Inmate” (not Ricky, portrayed by Jacob Lofland, as some have suggested). This significantly lowers the likelihood of his return for any sequel unless it involves a vision or projection from a disturbed character’s psyche.
Other characters from Joker: Folie à Deux may resurface if DC Studios decides to greenlight a sequel. Storrie’s character, seemingly evolving into a new Joker, would be the most feasible option.
He is largely unknown (a clever casting decision), having appeared in various short films and supporting roles, most recently in the 2023 project Riley.
Additionally, Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn survives, presenting a potential narrative thread for her to connect with the new Joker as a fellow radical “adorer” of Arthur. Gaga is receptive to this idea, expressing to Hits Radio that she believes there’s more depth to explore with Harley: “I definitely don’t feel done with Lee as a character. She has so much to express. What a fascinating character.”
Harry Lawtey’s Harvey Dent might also return, albeit quite injured. Furthermore, both Brendan Gleeson’s Arkham guard Jackie Sullivan and Arthur’s lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (played by Catherine Keener), remain alive.
Sullivan kills Arthur’s admirer Ricky (Lofland) and thus cannot return; however, Zazie Beetz’s Sophie Dumond could potentially be called back if needed.
4. Joker 3 Story Details: How Folie À Deux Sets Up A Sequel?
Both Joker and Joker: Folie à Deux deeply explore the perils of radicalization. Arthur becomes a surrogate idol, a symbol for Gotham’s rebellion against its corrupt elite, admired by Harley Quinn, Ricky, and the Young Inmate responsible for his death.
Nevertheless, his demise does little to diminish the force of his symbol, evidenced by the assailant’s adoption of the Joker’s legacy.
While the studio remains tight-lipped, and Todd Phillips has expressed intentions not to return, the conclusion of Joker: Folie à Deux could open the door to Arthur’s enduring legacy in Gotham.
Connor Storrie’s new Joker essentially inherits Arthur’s symbol, driven by his disenchantment with Arthur, which could herald a perilous new era for Gotham, especially in the absence of a fully formed Batman to pursue justice.
Harley’s potential alignment with the new Joker aligns with her obsession with the concept of the Joker rather than Arthur’s reality. This pursuit of a new radical agenda, especially one that contradicts Arthur’s assertion in his final statement that Joker is mere fantasy, could offer intriguing developments for her character.
The courtroom explosion also provides an alternative origin narrative for Harvey Dent’s evolution into Two-Face. While the explosion may not visibly mar his appearance as depicted in DC Comics, a sequel could still delve into his transformation into Two-Face stemming from trauma encountered in Joker: Folie à Deux.
5. About Joker: Madness for Two
Joker: Folie à Deux is a 2024 American musical psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips, co-written with Scott Silver. Loosely based on characters from DC Comics, it serves as the sequel to Joker (2019) and stars Joaquin Phoenix returning as the Joker, with Lady Gaga as his love interest Harley Quinn.
This film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2024, and is slated for a U.S. release on October 4, 2024.
Plot: Arthur Fleck finds himself in custody at Arkham Asylum, awaiting trial for a series of murders he committed as the Joker two years prior. Through music therapy, Arthur meets fellow inmate Lee Quinn, who shares her own dark story of burning down an apartment.
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