There could be a potential ‘Joker’ sequel on the table for Joaquin Phoenix if the first film is a success. While that may sound like a no-brainier in this time—particularly for a comic book adaptation—the whole concept behind ‘Joker’ originated as a plan to go away from franchise storytelling.
For those uninformed, Joker is an original, stand-alone story loosely based on the titular comic’s villain, with Phoenix playing a striving standup comedian in 1970s Gotham City.
The film takes almost nothing from the comics and began as a pitch from co-writer/director Todd Phillips to Warner Bros. as a way to devise a one-off, character-centric adaptation of a DC Comics character.
The idea was that one-offs like this could draw major talent like Phoenix and Philips without the dread of having to sign a contract to perform in four additional sequels and spinoffs or adhere to beforehand established universe rules.
But it sounds like Phillips and Phoenix had a blast making ‘Joker’. That’s why they’re not ruling anything out. Speaking with Total Film, Phillips sounds pretty keen on the idea of Joker 2:
“One thing I will tell you: I would do anything with Joaquin, any day of the week, There’s nobody like him. If he was willing to do it, and if people show up to this movie, and Warners came to us and said, ‘You know what? If you guys could think of something…’ Well, I have a feeling that he and I could think of something pretty cool.”
This doesn’t mean they’re certain that there will be a Joker sequel, but given the entire idea behind the film, it’s exciting to note that Phillips isn’t at all opposed to the idea of continuing the story.
Of course, first, it has to be seen how audiences and critics respond to Joker, which is getting a splashy debut at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival before hitting theaters on October 4th. If the film makes an impression, and if everyone is interested in making his first-ever sequel, ‘Joker’ might become a franchise after all.
