Joaquin Phoenix recently responded to reports regarding a Joker sequel. Todd Phillips' Joker came out in 2019, becoming an unlikely blockbuster and the first R-rated movie to gross $1 billion at the box office. The movie provided a possible origin story for Phoenix's titular character, Arthur Fleck, an unsuccessful clown whose slip into cynicism inspires a turbulent revolution in Gotham City. Starring Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, and Marc Maron, Joker received praised for its thrilling performances and cinematography. The movie earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Since Joker was a massive success, there were some natural discussions about following up on the movie with a potential sequel. Warner Bros., in fact, wanted the movie to spawn a new franchise called DC Black, which would feature experimental films different than those in the DCEU. But Phillips had reservations about continuing the story, as he had always pitched Joker to be a standalone film. Still, in November 2019, the director indicated that a sequel was possible, although it wasn't currently in development. After Phillips' comments, discussions about Joker 2 remained decidedly scant, although now, rumors are rife that the film is being planned, and Phillips has even committed to writing the screenplay. Currently, there is no official word on if the speculations are true..
In a conversation with The Playlist on Tuesday, Joaquin Phoenix revealed that he doesn't know if Joker 2 is in the works. He definitely thinks that there is a lot more to explore with the character, but whether or not would a sequel happen is something he is unsure about. During the interview, Phoenix also seemed to suggest that he'd be open to reprising his role for a sequel if it happens. Although he did not say that explicitly, his interest in playing an "interesting character" in an "interesting movie" could be read between the lines. Read what Phoenix said when asked if there was any truth to the Joker 2 rumors below:
“I mean, I dunno. From when we were shooting, we started to —you know, uhh, this is an interesting guy. There are some things we could do with this guy and could [explore] further. But as to whether we actually will? I don’t know.”
While Phillips remains reticent about a sequel, Phoenix has always been keen on navigating more stories with his character. After Joker's premiere, Phoenix told film critic Peter Travers that there was "more to do" with Arthur as the "possibilities" of where he can "go with the character" are "endless." However, there are certain artistic standards that any idea for a sequel would have to meet. Otherwise, the Gladiator actor wouldn't be so willing to return to the role.
Up until last year, Phillips had not had a proper conversation with Phoenix about Joker's future. So, the notion that the actor has no knowledge about a sequel's development may actually be true. The project may well be gestating, but perhaps it's in such an early stage where the idea of having conversations with potential talents may not have come up yet. On the other hand, however, Phoenix may know a thing or two about a Joker sequel, but a possible NDA is keeping him tight-lipped. Whatever it is, fans will not know for sure until Todd Philips issues a confirmation that Joker 2 is definitely happening. So far, the director hasn't even indicated that a sequel is being actively planned, so there is a strong chance that the rumors are false. Fans should still wait and watch to see how the situation unfolds.
Source: The Playlist