UPDATE:
Don't don your multicolored jackets and attach your joybuzzers just yet people. According to Deadline the news of a JOKER sequel may have been premature. The site is reporting that multiple inside sources are saying that no deals are in place for a sequel and there are no current negotiations with Todd Phillips or Joaquin Phoenix. Sources are also claiming that the supposed meeting between Phillips and Toby Emmerich never occurred and that Phillips is not considering developing other one-shot properties based on DC characters. Guess we'll see how it all unfolds, but I can't imagine that after a billion dollar box office discussions aren't being had.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Put on a happy face people! It looks like we may get that JOKER sequel after all.
Director Todd Phillips' JOKER film is unquestionably the breakout hit of the Fall season thus far. Since the origin story about the Clown Prince of Crime laughed its way into theaters October 4, the film has grossed over $1 billion worldwide. It's become the highest grossing R-rated film of all-time and the most profitable comicbook film of all-time compared to its budget. While JOKER was always intended as a standalone film, that didn't stop the rumor mill from cranking out the possibility of a sequel, something star Joaquin Phoenix was open to.
It seems as if Phoenix may get his wish, as word has reached the Internet that a JOKER sequel is in the works at Warner Bros. After JOKER's huge opening weekend, director Todd Phillips purportedly requested the rights to a slate of DC characters in order to create more origins stories. Warner Bros. chairman Toby Emmerich balked at the idea, however Phillips left the meeting with the rights to something else – a second JOKER film.
Todd Phillips is currently in talks to direct a follow-up to the 2019 smash hit, with Scott Silver set to pen the sequel. Phillips and Silver both co-wrote the original. Now it's important to note that JOKER 2 is in its infancy and both the studio and Phillips' representatives have declined comment. However, if true, this is some very exciting news.
I have to say I have mixed feelings about this. I loved JOKER but I don't necessarily think it needs a sequel. Phoenix and Phillips had conversations during production as to the direction a sequel might go however, so at the very least there's a degree of enthusiasm for the project. If we do end up getting a JOKER sequel I think it has to be of a similar tone to the first one. You can't do a gritty character study and then have a follow-up that's a madcap adventure. It just wouldn't make sense. Also it's unlikely that Todd Phillips and company would delve into the Batman mythos since Matt Reeves is already heading in that direction with THE BATMAN. While a JOKER sequel could be tricky, some people probably didn't expect a sequel to THE GODFATHER to work and we all know how that turned out.
JOKER starring Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy is currently in theaters and will release on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K January 7, 2020.