Director Todd Phillips surprised fans by unveiling a menacing new poster and the first audio snippet for his upcoming film “Joker: Folie a Deux,” featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. On Tuesday, Phillips took to social media to share the poster, captioning it, “The world is a stage. Joker: Folie à Deux trailer coming April 9.”
The film, described as a ‘jukebox musical,’ showcases Phoenix and Gaga in an intimate embrace, presumably ballroom dancing. The poster bears a striking resemblance to a previously released first-look photo of the duo in character, dancing on a rooftop. Notably, the poster not only features Phoenix in his iconic Joker makeup but also showcases Gaga in full-face makeup.
In a move to further intrigue fans, Phillips released an 11-second audio clip on TikTok featuring Lady Gaga’s character, Harleen Quinzel, whispering, “You can do anything you want… You’re Joker,” accompanied by piano music.
According to reports, “Joker: Folie a Deux” will feature at least 15 reinterpretations of “very well-known” songs, including ‘That’s Entertainment’ from the 1953 musical ‘The Band Wagon’. Hildur Guonadottir, the Oscar-winning composer of the first ‘Joker’ film, is set to “infuse her distinctive, haunting cues” into each musical number.
Jukebox musicals, such as ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Moulin Rouge’, have previously gained critical acclaim, with the latter receiving eight Oscar nominations.
The film, which is a sequel to the 2019 hit ‘Joker’, is expected to break the mold of traditional musicals. While specific plot details for ‘Folie a Deux’ have not been officially confirmed, the film is described as a drama with elements set in and around Arkham Asylum.
In addition to Phoenix and Gaga, the star-studded cast includes Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener, and Brendan Gleeson. “Joker: Folie a Deux” is set to release on October 4, 2024.
The original ‘Joker’, released in 2019, was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history and earning 11 Academy Award nominations.
