Update (Nov. 20, 12:22 p.m.): Not so fast. Inside sources have told Deadline that there is currently no deal for a Joker sequel, nor are there any ongoing negotiations with Todd Phillips and co-writer Scott Silver to pen a second movie. In addition, sources tell Deadline that the reported October 7 meeting that Phillips had with Warner Bros. film head Toby Emmerich to discuss potential other DC origin story movies never happened. When reached for comment by Vanity Fair, Phillips’ rep pointed to the Deadline report.
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Get ready for another round of supervillain antics. Todd Phillips, the director behind Joker, is reportedly working on a sequel to the Clown Prince of Crime’s origin story, according to the Hollywood Reporter, with Joaquin Phoenix likely set to reprise his role. However, that’s not all Phillips has got his eyes on; per THR, the writer-director is also scheming up an origin story for at least one other DC character, after pitching the studio on a whole slate of DC origin stories.
A Joker sequel seemed inevitable as far as these things go, didn’t it? The film, bolstered by strong early praise on the festival circuit and a shocking performance from Phoenix, became one of the most hyped-up, hotly debated movies of the year. It cashed in on that conversation, over-performing in its first weekend and going on to gross over $1 billion worldwide (per THR, Phillips is also set to earn close to $100 million thanks to his deal to get a chunk of the adjusted gross). The blockbuster’s ending (spoiler-ish alert?) certainly leaves things open-ended enough for a follow-up film about Joker, who settles into his new identity and raises all kinds of hell in the film’s third act. However, it’s unclear how a second film would handle the Bruce Wayne of it all, especially since Warner Bros. is currently working on a stand-alone Batman film starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves. In Joker, Bruce is still just a little kid en route to orphanhood, so a sequel might have to focus Arthur Fleck’s attention on another nemesis.
Phillips and Joker cowriter Scott Silver will reportedly write the follow-up film, THR notes. Reps for Phillips have not yet responded to Vanity Fair’s request for comment. The studio and Phillips’s reps declined to comment to THR.
However, as the outlet notes, Joker isn’t the only character in Phillips’s hands at the moment. The writer-director apparently took a meeting with Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich the Monday after Joker’s wildly successful opening weekend and pitched an idea to develop a range of DC character origin stories. Emmerich, per THR, balked at the idea, but did ultimately give Phillips the rights to another DC story. So, who would he tackle next after Joker? If he’s going down the supervillain route again, there are plenty to choose from, including Darkseid and Two-Face. In short, get ready for another endless round of controversial press and hot takes.
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