Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Joker

  • Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn Spotted at Iconic ‘Joker’ Location in Latest BTS Pics

    Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn Spotted at Iconic ‘Joker’ Location in Latest BTS Pics

    Joaquin Phoenix‘s romp down the Shakespeare Avenue Stairs located in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx in 2019’s Joker turned the location into a destination. Now referred to as “The Joker Stairs”, the 132 stairs have become a must-see landmark in the city for fans of the film. Director Todd Phillips remained fairly fond of them, too, as a new batch of set photos from the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, indicates that the film will return to the iconic location.

    As production has been ongoing in and around New York City, set photos have been fairly easy to come by, including a first look at star Lady Gaga in full Harley Quinn regalia. While she’s not decked out in one of Harley’s familiar outfits here, Lady Gaga‘s Harley is out for a stroll on the same stairs Arthur Fleck danced down in Joker.

    https://twitter.com/lislopees1/status/1642483840479363074?s=20

    Harley’s trek on the stairs certainly looks a little less joyful than Fleck’s gleeful descent. That’s all part of whatever director Todd Phillips, who can be seen chatting it up with Lady Gaga, has in store for the character in this particular part of the sequel.

    Joker: Folie à Deux will be released on October 4th, 2024 under DC Studios’ new Elseworlds banner, meaning the story told within the film will not be part of the continuity of the new DC Universe being established by DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. Set in the aftermath of the events of Joker, the sequel will see Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener join Lady Gaga as newcomers to the cast alongside returnees Phoenix and Zazie Beetz.

  • New ‘Joker 2’ Set Photo Hints at Another Member of Batman Rogue’s Gallery

    New ‘Joker 2’ Set Photo Hints at Another Member of Batman Rogue’s Gallery

    It seems like quite a few set photos are finding their way online from the set of Joker: Folie á Deux. The big reveal came in the form of our very first look at what Lady Gaga‘s take on Harley Quinn looks like. It’s definitely as grounded as you’d expect from the Joker franchise with her mostly having the iconic design from the original on her shirt and the red jacket. It’s definitely a departure from her original design but not too far off from what we see her wear in recent iterations.

    However, that isn’t the only thing that is revealed in this new batch of set photos, as The Hollywood Handle has unveiled one more that includes a reference to another member of Batman’s iconic rogue’s gallery. If you look closely, one of the signs states “Dent is the Clown” in a protest to allow Joaquin Phoenix‘s Arthur Fleck out of prison. Of course, if the name Dent is used in correlation with the law, it can only mean one thing: Harvey Dent a.k.a. Two-Face exists in this timeline.

    Now, it might not actually be in reference to Harvey Dent but perhaps his father. Bruce Wayne is quite young in this timeline, which would make it strange that a character that commonly is teased as a close friend is quite a bit older than him. Though it’s not entirely impossible that they just take this direction and have most of Batman’s rogue’s gallery exist as he was growing up and shape him similarly to Gotham‘s approach.

    Source: Twitter

  • Leaked Set Photos of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Provide First Look at Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn

    Leaked Set Photos of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Provide First Look at Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn

    Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019’s megahit, Joker, has been in production for some time and quite a few interesting photos and videos have leaked from the set. Lady Gaga, who joined the cast as Harleen Quinzel, has been captured on set a few times but not as her alter ego, Harley Quinn…until now.

    A new batch of photos and a video show Lady Gaga in her full, spectacular Harley Quinn look accompanied by a whole bunch of Gotham’s finest.

    A set video shows the character being escorted through a rowdy crowd, many of whom seem to be there rallying in support of the Joker.

    Given that several of the members of the crowd are either in Joker masks or full Joker makeup, not to mention the sign someone made asking Joker to marry them, it would appear that Joaquin Phoenix‘s Arthur Fleck has become a cult hero in Gotham following the events of Joker. That film ended with Fleck in Arkham Asylum, where it’s expected he will meet Lady Gaga’s character. A recent video from the set of the film shows what is widely accepted as the asylum burning as the duo escapes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIW5GDoaDy/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

    Joker: Folie à Deux, which will be a musical in parts, will be released at part of the new DC Studio’s Elseworlds banner on October 4, 2024.

  • James Gunn and Peter Safran Almost Weren’t DC Studios’ New Heads

    James Gunn and Peter Safran Almost Weren’t DC Studios’ New Heads

    DC Studios will shape the future of an entire franchise with James Gunn and producer Peter Safran at the steering wheel. It’s an exciting prospect to see what the future has in store for the franchise, even as they leave behind some of the landmarks that defined the franchise throughout the last few years. Yet, it seems that they almost weren’t in the leading position as Warner Bros. Discovery had their eyes set on someone else.

    As it turns out, their big hope was for Todd Phillips, the director behind the surprise billion dollar box office hit, Joker, and The Hangover trilogy. An insider shared just how far they went in trying to get him involved with the project, after “the whole town turned the job down. It was almost Todd Phillips. They begged him.”

    Everyone was aware of the impossible task set upon them taking over a role that Kevin Feige managed to master against all odds. Gunn was a fitting choice considering he’s worked under Marvel Studios’ leadership to get a glimpse at what it means to run a cinematic franchise. Still, there does seem to be some concern, especially with him not having been in such a position before.

    I wonder if big filmmakers will work for another director with zero experience guiding movies through a huge grinder of a system. He’s not Kevin Feige [of Marvel].

    Though it should be noted that the same issue also would’ve been with Phillips if he was given the position. He only has the additional caveat of having no real interest in the DC universe or any understanding of what makes it tick. Yes, Joker was a success but that doesn’t mean every film he touches would have the same effect. Plus, he has openly mocked the genre in the past and who knows how the DC Cinematic Universe would look like under his leadership.

    Source: New York Post

  • ‘Joker 2’ to Start Production Next Month

    ‘Joker 2’ to Start Production Next Month

    Warner Bros. Discovery has been slowly wrapping up the year with a new earnings call, where CEO David Zaslav offered some insight into recent developments from the company and what the future has in store. A big focus was set on the newly formed DC Studios and some of the projects that are set to appear in the coming years. Among them was the Joker sequel, Joker: Folie á Deux. Joaquin Phoenix once again returns to take on the role of Batman’s greatest villain in a standalone experience and it looks like production is set to start very soon.

    As revealed by Zaslav himself during the earnings call, the Joker sequel is set to start production next month. No exact start date has been shared but it seems that they are on course to get working on the project with director Todd Phillips also returning. The biggest addition is Lady Gaga, who is taking on this new universe’s take on Harley Quinn. Once she joined the project, the rumors of it acting as a musical gained traction and highlighted how this new take might differ from the previous entry.

    It’s definitely interesting that Joker of all films is getting a sequel just as Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to establish a connected DC Universe. Even Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe will still continue to evolve and it was hinted at being its own pocket universe. So, Zaslav is currently trying to get the best of both worlds rather than keeping a true focus. On the flip side, these distinct projects still happening is great for those that want to see more diverse stories from these iconic heroes. So, while it’s confusing if you consider WBD’s set goal, it seems we can still look forward to some unique projects.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Joker’ Sequel Not Part of DC Studios, Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ Franchise Uncertain

    ‘Joker’ Sequel Not Part of DC Studios, Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ Franchise Uncertain

    The news not too long ago broke that Warner Bros. Discovery has found its new head(s) of the newly founded DC Studios. Walter Hamada’s former DC Films now has two co-CEOs in The Suicide Squad director James Gunn and long-time producer Peter Safran. Of course, the studio’s plans, at least what WBD CEO David Zaslav imagines, will create its own cinematic universe moving forward. So, it opens the question of what that means for other entries in the franchise such as the Joker sequel and Matt Reeve‘s The Batman franchise.

    Todd Phillips‘ upcoming Joker: Folie á Deux will not be supervised by the newly formed CEO duo but rather fall under the supervision of Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy. As such, it seems very likely that this project will act independently from the other DC projects, especially as it mainly explores a unique take on a familiar character. Matt Reeves‘ The Batman universe however is the biggest question mark to date. While we just got the news that they are moving forward with an Arkham Asylum-based series, it seems that its place in the universe is still uncertain.

    We might have to wait a bit before we find out any actual details on what the future of the DCEU will look like; if it’ll have that name moving forward. The Batman will likely continue given the recent success of the first film’s entry with Penguin’s spinoff already starting production. It does seem like they won’t be rebooting the entire franchise but use the current projects as a jumping-off point. Black Adam just released and various other projects are already ins some form of development. So, we’ll have to see if they are just waiting for The Flash to reboot the franchise.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Barry Keoghan’s ‘The Batman’ Audition Tape Is Now Public

    Barry Keoghan’s ‘The Batman’ Audition Tape Is Now Public

    When Matt Reeves’ The Batman was released earlier this year, one of its most hotly debated features was the surprise casting of Barry Keoghan as yet another live-action Joker. As it turns out, however, the iconic arch-nemesis was not the member of Bruce Wayne’s rogues’ gallery Keoghan originally auditioned for. According to an audition tape, which has just been made public, the Irish actor had actually been trying out for the role of Edward Nashton, better known as the film’s main baddie – The Riddler.

    The footage shows Keoghan waltzing around an empty hallway with a cane and an outfit inspired by the character’s comic book appearance. According to the Eternals star, via a report by GQ UK, he sent his tape unsolicited to Reeves’ team before being told that the production had already filled the role. Of course, Paul Dano eventually landed the part after Jonah Hill passed, playing a version of the Riddler that felt far more original than most fans were expecting. Luckily for Keoghan, the film wasn’t done casting, and he received news from his agent four months later that The Batman wanted him for The Joker instead.

    The tease that Joker does exist in Reeves’ universe seemed like a set-up for the sequel, but the director has gone on record to say that isn’t exactly the case. Whether or not the villain appears in The Batman 2 is still up in the air, but Keoghan says he’ll be ready if the call does come in:

    As soon as that call comes I’m there, man, I’m there.

    Barry Keoghan

    Source: Variety

  • RUMOR: Joaquin Phoenix May Not Be the Lead of DC’s ‘Joker’ Sequel

    RUMOR: Joaquin Phoenix May Not Be the Lead of DC’s ‘Joker’ Sequel

    There have been a lot of questions surrounding the upcoming sequel of Todd Phillips‘ Joker. Not only did many scratch their head at the idea, but it became even more astounding when it was teased to be a musical. Then Lady Gaga was announced as part of the cast and hinted to be taking on the role of Harley Quinn. Now a new rumor may be hinting at a unique direction for the sequel.

    Now, The Weekly Planet’s latest podcast episode has maybe hinted that while the sequel Joker: Folie à Deux still keeps the jester in its title, it won’t be from his perspective. Rather, host James Clement hinted that the project is actually from Dr. Harleen Quinzell’s view, who seemingly sees her romance as a musical that results in the way it’s told.

    Apparently, Joker 2 isn’t so much a Joker movie, it’s a Harley Quinn… It’s from Harley Quinn’s perspective. And the reason it’s a musical is because that’s how she perceives her relationship with Joker.

    James Clement

    It’s definitely an interesting direction o take the sequel nd would make it stand out from its predecessor. Not an uncommon move from Pixar to turn its main star into a side character in the sequel, but there’s a chance this move is mostly that they could have parts switch between perspectives. There’s a chance that we’ll see it from her views when it turns into am musical and the usual ark reality when we switch to Joker, or perhaps we learn how he might see the world in a new light since the last film. We can only speculate for now.

    Source: Weekly Planet via The Direct

  • ‘Mud’ Star Jacob Lofland Latest to Join ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

    ‘Mud’ Star Jacob Lofland Latest to Join ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

    The cast for the sequel to 2019’s Joker continues to grow as the start of production draws nearer. Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener have already joined Joaquin Phoenix in the film and now young star Jacob Lofland has as well. According to a trade report, Lofland will play a role associated with Gotham’s Arkham Asylum.

    THR’s sources indicate that Lofland will play an inmate in the asylum where Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was shown to be at the end of Joker. With Lady Gaga on board the project as Harley Quinn, it seems that Arkham will be the film’s primary setting.

    Todd Phillips is returning to direct after the first film generated significant buzz for WB, garnering 11 Academy Award nominations and 2 wins, including Best Actor for Phoenix. Joker: Folie à Deux is currently slated to hit theaters on October 4, 2024.

    Source: THR

  • ‘Joker’ Sequel Adds Catherine Keener as Production Eyes December Start

    ‘Joker’ Sequel Adds Catherine Keener as Production Eyes December Start

    Many were surprised when 2019’s Joker suddenly got a sequel announced by Warner Bros. Discovery, especially during their current trend of reshaping their DC universe. Either way, the moment it was hinted that the series would act as a musical with Lady Gaga joining Joaquin Pheonix, expectations certainly were set. They will be joined by Brendan Gleeson and Zazie Beez, but have not also added Catherine Keener in an unspecified but major role. Production is expected to start in December based on a script co-written by Scott Silver and returning director Todd Phillips.

    The project is shaping up to be one of DC’s most curious sequels. Not only is it continuing a story that seemed singular in design but given its success on a small budget, Warner Bros. Discovery’s focus on the bottom line must see the cash opportunity. Phillips has been on a high since his work on the 2019′ film as an auteur and has quite an interesting background as the director of The Hangover trilogy. Perhaps he has a chance to make a second trilogy with the Joker films.

    We’ll see what role Keener might have in the project. There’s the possibility that the film will once again pay tribute by basing its story around some classics. She could have a quasi-villainous role or even be someone that is quite close to Lady Gaga’s character, who is heavily implied to be Harley Quinn. We can only theorize for now.

    Source: Deadline