'Joker 2' Will Be A Musical And Lady Gaga Is In Talks Play Harley Quinn
Lady Gaga is in early talks to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in director Todd Phillips’ sequel to Joker, the 2019 Oscar-winning, $1 billion Warner Bros. hit based on the DC character.
Phillips has been co-writing the script with Joker co-writer Scott Silver for some time and has finally shown it to the studio. Last week, Phillips revealed on social media the title of the new project — Joker: Folie à deux — the title referencing a medical term for an identical or similar mental disorder that affects two or more individuals, usually members of the same family. And while the same social media post showed Phoenix reading the script, the actor’s involvement is not exactly a legal fait accompli just yet — sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Warners has yet to close a deal with the actor, with the two sides deep into it.
But wait, that’s not all: Sources say the sequel is also a musical.
On the pod earlier today, we talked a bit about the potential for Joker 2. As of this morning, when we recorded, all we knew was that it was officially underway and that they might be looking to cast a Harley Quinn. My thoughts on the matter were pretty simple: I don't know where you go with The Joker. The most redeeming quality of the movie is Joaquin's performance, and I don't think I've ever heard of someone repeating oscar-winning success in the same role. How does he improve? Where do you send the Joker that hasn't been run over a million times already?
Well, the answer was apparently very simple: A Musical.
At first glance, I wasn't all that in to the idea. But the more I think about it, the more I actually love a sick and twisted up musical around one of the most deranged characters ever invented. I'm thinking Sweeney Todd, Phantom of the Opera, LittleShop of horrors type stuff. That is actually a pretty unique way to move the story forward and really get into some truly scary stuff.
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I'm not totally convinced on Gaga as Harley Quinn, only because that is a role that requires a certain level of psychotic acting ability that I have never seen before. Obviously, Margot Robbie also has a very recent stranglehold on the live-action portrayals. I didn't have this same worry for Joaquin stepping into Heath's shoes only because he is a god-tier actor. However, it's not like Margot delivered a Heath-level performance as Quinn I guess.
Todd Phillips is really surpising me with this move in a great way. For now, though, I can't wait to see Joaquin as Napoleon in Ridley Scott's biopic.