Preview:

  • A full trailer has been released for ‘Joker: Folie À Deux.’
  • Joaquin Phoenix returns to his Oscar-winning role as the Clown Prince of Crime, while Lady Gaga portrays Harley Quinn.
  • The musical-romance-crime-thriller arrives in theaters on October 4th.

A full trailer has arrived for director Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie À Deux,’ the follow-up to the 2019 smash that reunites Phillips with Joaquin Phoenix, who won a best actor Oscar for the title role, and introduces Lady Gaga as the latest incarnation of Joker’s sidekick and romantic partner, Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn.

In the new trailer, Arthur Fleck/Joker goes on trial for committing murder on live television and inciting a wave of anarchy and violence across Gotham, with the former party clown ending up in Arkham Asylum.

It’s there that he begins a warped romance with fellow inmate Harleen Quinzel, while his public profile as a cult figure only becomes more popular outside the walls of Arkham and potentially leads to more destruction.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.'

(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo: Todd Phillips' Instagram.

The trailer gives up glimpses of all this, showing us the blossoming (if that’s the word) relationship between Arthur and Harleen in more detail, while also chronicling the aftermath of Joker’s assault on the city – where a certain sector of the populace seems to see him as some kind of folk hero or revolutionary martyr.

And while the trailers have so far hidden the fact that this movie is apparently also a full-blown musical (at least in the minds of Joker and Harley), we get only the barest hint of it this time around as Arthur warbles a few lines of Stevie Wonder’s ‘For Once in My Life.’

Related Article: Todd Phillips Posts New Images of His ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Stars

What’s the story of ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’?

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker and Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.'

(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker and Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo: Todd Phillips' Instagram Account.

Two years after inciting a wave of murder, crime and chaos in Gotham City that made him a cult figure, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) has been institutionalized at Arkham Asylum.

There he catches the attention of the perhaps equally insane Harleen Quinzel (Lady Gaga), and together they embark on a musical journey through their shared pathological romance while Arthur’s followers plan to set him free.

Who is appearing in ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’?

Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.'

(L to R) Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo: Todd Phillips' Instagram.

While the movie is very much being marketed as a two-hander for Phoenix and Gaga, the cast also includes Zazie Beetz (returning from the first film as Arthur’s former neighbor Sophie), Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, Ken Leung, and Sharon Washington.

What has happened with ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’’ so far?

Joaquin Phoenix in Director Todd Phillips' ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.'

Joaquin Phoenix in Director Todd Phillips' ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo courtesy of Todd Phillips' Instagram account.

Following the billion-plus worldwide box office of 2019’s ‘Joker,’ its 11 Oscar nominations, and Joaquin Phoenix’s win for best actor, it was a foregone conclusion that the studio would want more. Although Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix had envisioned ‘Joker’ as a standalone story, both also came around to the idea of a sequel.

Phillips co-wrote the script again with Scott Silver, with the film officially going into development in June 2022.

At the same time, Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe – from which ‘Joker’ always stood apart – was coming to a close, and new DC Studios co-president James Gunn confirmed that ‘Joker 2’ would be an ‘Elseworlds’ project, meaning it would also stand apart from both the connected DC universe he’s been developing as well as other ‘Elseworlds’ offshoots like ‘The Batman.’

Lady Gaga joined the film in the summer of 2022, becoming the second live-action Harley Quinn on the big screen following Margot Robbie. Filming began in December 2022, taking place in New York and Los Angeles before wrapping in April 2023.

When will ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ be in theaters?

Warner Bros. Pictures has set October 4, 2024 as the release date for ‘Joker: Folie À Deux.’

Written by Don Kaye. 

'Joker: Folie à Deux.'

'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo: Warner Bros.

Other Movies and TV Shows featuring the Joker:

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