Joker 2 Test Screening Report Has DC Fans Going Wild
Todd Phillips’ 2019 film Joker was an unexpected hit, both critically and commercially, and now it seems like Joker 2 will be following in its footsteps. Industry insider Grace Randolph reported that the anticipated sequel was met with positive reactions at the test screening, saying, “I hear the movie looks phenomenal,” and, “I hear it looks really, really good.” This is definitely good news for Warner Bros, which gave the sequel, officially titled Joker: Folie a Deux, a massive budget of $200 million.
A Massive Budget
Joker had a comparatively modest budget of $60 million, which it more than made back with a massive box office take of over $1 billion worldwide. Risking $200 million is a big bet, but it’s a safe bet that this movie can bring in similar numbers. If anything, Joker 2 has a chance of doing even better.
Joker And Harley
Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker for Joker 2 after winning the Best Actor for his performance in the 2019 film. This time, he’ll also be joined by fellow Oscar winner Lady Gaga, who is playing Joker’s paramour, Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn. The movie is also apparently a musical, which should definitely be helped by Lady Gaga’s presence.
Joker 2 is riding almost completely off hype at this point, as the film has only offered us some behind-the-scenes looks and official images of the main duo. The reports of the successful test screening should only help to drive up hype. We’re still waiting on a full trailer.
Elseworlds
Joker 2 is not part of James Gunn’s upcoming DCU and instead falls under the DC Elseworlds banner of films. These films are separate from the continuity of the DCU, so they’re free to tell their own stories, cast different actors as characters in the DCU, and not be beholden to a growing cinematic universe. Matt Reeves’ The Batman and The Batman 2 also fall under this umbrella.
It’s definitely a smart strategy and one that comic book movie competitor Marvel might want to consider. While it’s cool to see a massive and interconnected cinematic universe, it doesn’t allow for a lot of risk. It’s safe to say that a movie like 2019’s Joker and the upcoming Joker 2 wouldn’t really be able to be made if they had to work around the story being told in the DCU.
The Cast
In any case, it’ll be interesting to see if Joker 2 can pull it off again and bring in tons of bucks, critical acclaim, and audience adoration. Based on these reports, the film definitely seems to be on the right track. Along with Joaquin Phoenix, the film is also bringing back Zazie Beetz, with Steve Coogan, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener joining the new cast along with Lady Gaga.
Coming In October
Joker 2 is definitely one of the biggest and most anticipated upcoming comic book films. We won’t have to wait much longer for the film to drop, as it hits theaters on October 4. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated on this film and other DC projects.
Source: Pop Crave
