Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga Fall in Twisted Love

The Clown Prince of Crime and Harley Quinn need you to know that what the world wants now could be… love.

That’s the message of the primary trailer for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which sees Joaquin Phoenix reprise his Oscar-winning position as Arthur Fleck (who later turns into Batman’s infamous foe) and conspire with Woman Gaga because the equally twisted Harley Quinn.

The darkish and gritty footage begins on the famed Arkham Asylum — the place Joker is locked up on the finish of the primary movie — as Arthur Fleck has a deranged “meet cute” with one other inmate (you guessed it, Gaga’s Harley Quinn). After the prospect encounter within the halls of jail, they fall madly, deeply in love and plan to interrupt out of their straight jackets to tackle the world past their padded cells. It brings them to the streets of Gotham Metropolis, the place they manically dance and twirl across the metropolis.

“I’m no person. I haven’t finished something with my life like you could have,” Harley Quinn, dressed down in sweats, tells Joker as she makes a finger-gun gesture and mimes capturing herself within the head.

The primary movie served as a moody origin story for the Joker, who’s portrayed on this cinematic universe a reclusive, struggling slapstick comedian and part-time clown. Within the sequel, he takes his act on the street and performs on all types of phases with Harley Quinn as his demented muse — and she or he’s carrying his signature make-up, smeared lipstick and all. This time round, although, Arthur Fleck doesn’t appear so lonely.

“I’ll let you know what’s modified,” Joker says within the trailer. “I’m not alone anymore — that’s what we must be speaking about!”

The trailer ends with Harley at Arkham Asylum as she attracts a contented face with purple lipstick on the glass partition between her and Joker. “I wish to see the actual you,” she tells him.

Director Todd Phillips debuted the footage at CinemaCon, the annual conference for movie show house owners. Though the unique 2019 “Joker” was billed as a “one-off,” Phillips mentioned he and Phoenix all the time talked about making a sequel.

“We beloved the character of Arthur an excessive amount of, however we didn’t wish to jinx the [original] film,” Phillips mentioned. “We forged Gaga as a result of she’s magic.”

Little is understood concerning the precise plot of the sequel, which is reportedly a jukebox musical. Phillips mentioned that categorization isn’t totally correct, although it should characteristic loads of track and dance numbers. Within the trailer, they waltz throughout rooftops and thru Gotham Metropolis to notes of “What the World Wants Now Is Love.”

“I wish to say it’s a film the place music is an important component,” says Phillips. “It doesn’t veer too removed from the primary movie. Arthur has music in him. He has a grace to him.”

Earlier than introducing the trailer, Phillips thanked the room of theater house owners for taking part in “Joker” on the massive display regardless of stories that the grotesque, blood-soaked movie would encourage violence.

“A couple of month earlier than the primary ‘Joker’ got here out, the narrative on the movie actually turned and there [were] these weird warnings concerning the film,” he mentioned. “It was wonderful that exhibitors didn’t budge an inch, and when the film got here out, it did big enterprise. That angle was an enormous cause for our success.”

As Phillips alluded, “Joker” turned an enormous blockbuster with $1 billion on the international field workplace. It turned the primary R-rated movie to move the billion-dollar mark and earned 11 Oscar nominations, together with greatest image.

“Joker 2” will debut on the massive display on Oct. 4, 2024 — precisely 5 years after the primary movie. The unique price $62.5 million to provide, an unusually conservative funds for a comic book ebook adaptation. Given its runaway monetary success, the follow-up was granted a a lot extra substantial $200 million price ticket.

The sequel will display within the Imax 70mm format. Though it was shot with Imax-certified lenses that modify digital cameras and never its movie cameras, the corporate has created a minimum of 10 movie prints of “Joker: Folie à Deux” to play in choose worldwide areas.

Footage of “Joker” debuted as a part of Warner Bros.’ presentation to exhibitors. The studio additionally has “Beetlejuice 2,” “Horizon: An American Saga” and “Mad Max” prequel “Furiosa” on its 2024 slate.