"Joker" has become one of the most popular movies in recent years. Not only because it is a new adaptation of the famous "Joker", the criminal clown and eternal enemy of Batman, but also because of all the background that this film worked on to deliver a very different result from other superhero movies that DC Comics or Marvel Studios have made in the past.
Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips worked hard to concretize the right ideas around this film, telling a totally new origin that had not been explored in the DC comics. It has also become one of the most popular films that Warner Bros. has made with the comics company.
Therefore, fans of this new "Joker" have wondered if there will be a sequel. Originally, the film was conceived as a stand-alone feature film and even director Todd Phillips commented that there would not be a second part, but it seems that things changed after its release.
The production team and the cast have not been able to escape the constant questions about a possible sequel to "Joker". Now, Joaquin Phoenix seems to have given more hints that the idea of a sequel is not as far-fetched as it seems, as he even mentioned it to the director during filming, as he confessed to Los Angeles Times:
"Before its release or before we had any idea it would be successful, we talked about sequels. In the second or third week of filming, I thought, 'Todd, can you start working on a sequel? There is too much to explore.' It was kind of a joke, but not really."
Did Joaquin Phoenix mean that he wanted a second "Joker" movie? He has commented on how difficult it has been for him to portray the character, so the best time to make a sequel would have been alongside the first, while still carrying the weight and mentality of the "Joker":
"I basically said, 'You could take this character and put him in any movie'. So I did a photo shoot with the set photographer and we made posters where I photoshopped Joker into 10 classic movies: Rosemary's Baby, Raging Bull, Yentl... (laughs) If you see it, you say, 'Yeah, I would watch that movie.' 'Yentl with Joker? That would be amazing!'"
For his part, director Todd Phillips commented to the media that he remembers perfectly well the photos his star actor took, going through "Yentl", "Forrest Gump" and even his previous film "The Hangover", and gave his point of view on the possible sequel:
"We haven't talked much about that. We've only talked about the fact that if we ever did the sequel, and I'm not saying we are because right now we're not, it couldn't just be this wild and crazy movie about the 'Clown Prince of Crime'. That just doesn't interest us. It would have to have a certain thematic resonance in a similar way that the current Joker does."
So, is it possible to make a sequel? Yes, it is. However, Todd Phillips is clear that it will not be possible to recreate all the context with which the film was released, as there were different factors around the film that led to its success and may not be repeated for its sequel.
"I think, ultimately, that's why the movie connected, outside of all the noise and confusion of the last month and a half. I think the reason it resonates is what's underneath the movie. Many movies are about the spark, and this movie is about the dust. If you could capture that again in a real way, it would be interesting."
For now, everything is uncertain, but due to the success of the film, it is possible that DC and Warner will vote to make a sequel to the movie. If Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix decide to do it, exploring what happened to Arthur Fleck after the first film would clarify many doubts about it. For now, we can only wait for time to pass to know what this duo will do on the big screen.
