Rumors are swirling that Joker may be getting a sequel. The heavily-meme'd 2019 movie starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a man with a personal problem with a society who ends up performing stand-up on television and dancing on some stairs. Directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover trilogy) and from a screenplay co-written by Phillips and Scott Silver (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), the movie was even nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Adapted Screenplay."
But in spite of achieving box office success despite an R-rating (the movie was released in theaters a few months in advance of the global COVID-19 pandemic), the announcement of a possible sequel raises a few questions, like "does Joker need a sequel" and "what did we do to deserve this?"
Crisis on Infinite Jokers?
Just one of the reasons that a Joker sequel seems unnecessary is the fact that another retelling of Batman's story is set to begin in just a few weeks with The Batman starring Robert Pattinson. In addition to introducing a new incarnation of Bruce Wayne, this movie will also feature a new interpretation of several familiar Bat-villains, including the Riddler (Paul Dano) and the Penguin (Colin Farrell).
With a gritty tone that draws on DC Comics stories like The Long Halloween and Batman: Year One, Phoenix's version of Joker could fit into the new franchise's story. Further, while it is a nice break to see Batman face off against some non-clown antagonists, it seems unlikely that Pattinson's Dark Knight won't end up facing off against some version of the Clown Prince of Crime. In that case, it could be possible that Phoenix reprises the role.
How About Birds of Prey 2 Instead?
But there is one DC Comics villain-centered movie that absolutely deserves a sequel: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. This 2020 movie, which was directed by Cathy Yan and written by Christian Hodson, saw Joker's ex-girlfriend, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) team up with characters like Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winsted), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), and Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) in order to defeat Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor), a rich white dude who thinks society has wronged him (don't worry, he gets blown to bits by a grenade at the end – oops, spoilers for a two-year-old movie that can be streamed unedited on HBO Max right now).
While Birds of Prey did not perform as well as Joker did at the box office (and there are reasons for this outside of the film's quality, sorry folks), it still managed to earn twice its budget. Plus, Birds of Prey had a killer soundtrack, which debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200, demonstrating that box office earners are not the only measure for success when it comes to superhero movies. Did Joker have a song on its soundtrack by Megan Thee Stallion and Normani? Didn't think so!
Is Joker 2 Even Happening?
According to rumors, Phillips struck a deal to co-write Joker 2 in May 2021, but no concrete updates have been announced since. There has been another rumor that production on the Clown Prince's second outing will begin in 2023, but here's to hoping the ex-Clown Princess will get her due on the big screen instead (after all, the victim, not the psychopath, is always the more interesting character in these stories, and she has more room for a multi-movie character arc that doesn't just involve senseless violence).
Besides, Joker was so very desperate to be viewed as a "prestige film," rather than "just a superhero movie," that a second outing seems senseless even for the Crown Prince of Senselessness. There's a reason there was such a large campaign to get the movie nominated for Academy Awards after its debut. Although more superhero films probably deserve recognition, this one didn't require extra rallying just because it was a superhero film.
Although it is silly to make such arbitrary distinctions of quality based solely on genre, and such presumptions say more about those who are making them than the movies themselves, one fact remains salient: prestige movies don't get franchise sequels. Joker can't have it both ways: if it wants to be "different" than other superhero movies, it should be different, and it can start by not giving us another cash-in sequel!