Madness unleashed: Joker Folie à Deux trailer drop sends fans into a frenzy.
After nearly five years since the groundbreaking release of Joker, fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the first trailer for its highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. Recently unveiled at Las Vegas CinemaCon, the trailer has sent shockwaves among fans and film critics alike, offering a tantalising glimpse into the twisted world of Gotham City once again.
The original Joker was always marked as a stand-alone film, but both director by Todd Phillips and lead actor Joaquin Phoenix wanted to keep the door to a second film open. Phillips told the CinemaCon audience in Las Vegas, “We loved the character of Arthur too much, but we didn’t want to jinx the original movie.” Now less than 6 months from release, Joaquin Phoenix is set to return to his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux, a musically tinged anti-hero saga set in the gritty backdrop of 1980s Gotham. Adding to the excitement of this upcoming sequel is the announcement of Lady Gaga joining the cast as the equally enigmatic Harley Quinn. Speaking about choosing Gaga for the role at CinemaCon, Director Phillips said, "We cast Gaga because she's magic. I was a producer on A Star Is Born... That was the first time I really met her and got to watch her work. As we were writing this script, Scott Silver, who I wrote it with, kept going back to her."
Joining Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in this highly anticipated sequel are familiar faces Zazie Beetz reprising her role as Sophie Dumond, Leigh Gill as Fleck's clown coworker Gary and Sharon Washington returning as Fleck's social worker. Notable new additions to the cast alongside Lady Gaga include Oscar-nominated actors Catherine Keener (Capote), Steve Coogan (Philomena), and Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges), a captivating collaboration of powerhouse talents.
As shown in the trailer, Joker: Folie à Deux follows the immediate events of the first film. After being incarcerated at Arkham Asylum, Arthur encounters fellow patient Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn), played by Lady Gaga. The pair ultimately ignite a peculiar bond that leads to their daring escape and subsequent havoc wreaked upon Gotham City. Whilst their love seems real, it’s important to consider that the debut film Joker played with the boundary between reality and Arthur’s imagination, making it difficult to interpret what footage from the sequel’s trailer is imaginary or not. Additionally, the film's French subtitle, Folie à Deux, alludes to the shared psychosis between central characters Arthur and Harley, blurring the lines between their courtship and the world around them. The trailer also unveils that the musical elements of this sequel woven into the narrative serve as illustrations of Joker's and Harley's tumultuous relationship, further adding to the dizzying blend of fact and fiction.
As audiences eagerly await the release of Joker: Folie à Deux, this trailer has only heightened anticipation for what promises to be a captivating and unforgettable cinematic experience with massive award season potential as it continues to push the boundaries of the superhero genre.
This is a colossal cultural moment not to be missed. See Joker: Folie à Deux in cinemas October 3.