Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Joker

  • ‘Joker’ Sequel Will Receive Massive Budget Increase From First Entry

    ‘Joker’ Sequel Will Receive Massive Budget Increase From First Entry

    Here’s quite the surprise but it looks like the upcoming Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux will have a twice as large budget as the previous entry. While it did surprise many when it pulled in over a billion at the international box office in 2019, it seems that the ambitious sequel will have quite a higher investment than the previous entry. The first was reported to have a budget between $55M to $70M, and it now seems that the latest entry will be closer to a high-budget Marvel film in scope.

    According to Variety, the film will have a budget of $150M due to the high salaries of Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips, who are expected to get $20M. Lady Gaga, the long-rumored addition show as recently confirmed, will get $10M. That is not all, as the production costs will get raised quite a bit due to the complicated musical sequences that are planned for the project, even if Variety hints that it’s closer to A Star is Born than In the Heights.

    We’ll have to see just where the budget will go, especially if the project is mostly taking place at one location. Perhaps they plan to have the dance sequences break the mold of reality and add interesting showpieces to the two dance sequences. It does seem curious how the budget ballooned for the sequel after Phillips statements in regards to keeping the project “smaller and more personal” in the past but we’ll see how the Joker sequel will turn out.

    Source: Deadline

  • Zazie Beetz to Return in ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Zazie Beetz to Return in ‘Joker’ Sequel

    When the Joker sequel was announced, all eyes were on the fact that not only was it going to be a musical but also Lady Gaga is very likely taking on the role of Harley Quinn. We still don#t know any details about the project, but we did get a confirmation that she is definitely joining the project in an unknown role. In a surprising twist, it seems that a familiar face is going to return to the project from the first entry, as Zazie Beetz will take on the role of Sophie Dumond once again.

    While there have been hints that Joker: Folie à Deux will mostly take place in Arkham Asylum, the ending did keep a lot of questions open on how much of the story was actually Arthur Fleck’s experience or in the character’s mind. Carried mostly by Joaquin Phoenix‘s performance, the project played with the viewer’s perception of what is and isn’t real. As such was the story arc of Beetz‘ Dumond. While it seemed that she was slowly falling in love with Fleck, it turns out it was all in his mind.

    There’s no word on how her character might tie into the story, perhaps they’ll play around with the idea that she’s an inmate or someone that is still haunting Fleck’s subconscious. It would be strange if she returns for a brief appearance or generally if they want to further explore his actions as he fully became the Joker. Perhaps we get to see Gotham from her perspective as everything has gone insane after Fleck accidentally led a faction into trying to overtake the city. Whatever may be, we’ll have to wait and see.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Joker’ Sequel to Mostly Take Place in Arkham Asylum

    ‘Joker’ Sequel to Mostly Take Place in Arkham Asylum

    The upcoming sequel to Joker subtitled Folie à Deux, finally gets a release date as Todd Phillips returns to the world he set up back in 2019. Joaquin Phoenix is already confirmed to return while rumors have hinted that the film is going to be a musical. There have been hopes that Lady Gaga might even take on the role of Harley Quinn. We know very little about the actual story direction of the sequel outside of rumors, but it looks like we got our first little nugget of information.

    According to The Wrap‘s Umberto Gonzalez, it seems that most of the upcoming films will take place in Arkham Asylum. So, it hints that it’ll set up right after where the first film ended and potentially follow the storyline known as Mad Love from the comics. The story revealed how Harley Quinn was actually Joker’s psychiatrist that would create a unique bond with him during her interviews with the inmate.

    It’ll be interesting to see how the project will come together, and it does seem likely that it’ll involve a lot of musical dream sequences throughout. It may be a way to add a different background as they explore the character’s bonding. We’ll have to see if they make an announcement on the casting in the near future, especially if they already set a release date.

    Source: Twitter

  • Former Marvel Studios Lawyer Opens Up on Missed Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Doctor Strange’ Deal

    Former Marvel Studios Lawyer Opens Up on Missed Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Doctor Strange’ Deal

    While Benedict Cumberbatch has become THE definite Doctor Strange for many, there was a time when Marvel Studios was eyeing Joaquin Phoenix to take on the role. He famously passed on it, as he wasn’t a big fan of their multi-film contract. A lot has happened since that day, as even Marvel Studios moved away from that model, and former production lead attorney Paul Sarker revealed in an interview with The Direct that the Phoenix situation was a key catalyst for their current strategy.

    But to be perfectly honest, the Joaquin Phoenix thing was unique to me, because there was a deal and because it was pretty far along. And we were hopeful that it would close, but it didn’t. And that happens. And that to bring it back full circle, things like that may be why Kevin is saying we don’t want to do these super long-term deals because we want to see what works and if it works, and people want to do more than we’d love to have [them]. We don’t want someone to feel like they’re forced.

    Paul Sarker

    While everyone still benefitted in the end, as Phoenix went on to make a splash with another comic book property in Joker and Cumberbatch became the de facto choice for anyone imagining what this character would look, sound, and be like. It would be fun if he does end up returning in a cameo as the multiverse continues to expand. Sometimes these things just fall into place and it also highlights once again that Marvel Studios is a studio that tends to learn with time.

    Now, they have a bigger universe than ever and their talent is still interested in returning even without any real contractual obligations like in the past. Even Natalie Portman and Idris Elba returned after sharing their dismay with the contract in the past. So, who knows what else they might have started learning and adjusting.

    Source: The Direct

  • A Musical ‘is a Brilliant Choice for the Sequel to ‘Joker’

    A Musical ‘is a Brilliant Choice for the Sequel to ‘Joker’

    Nobody ever thought the Joker, of all characters, would be getting his own solo film, but here we are, over a billion dollars and a few Academy Awards later. Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips proved everyone wrong. No matter what you think about the film, it was a unique project set within a sea of other comic book media that has flooded the mainstream and become a staple in pop culture. Arthur Fleck’s story seemingly ended, so the thought that a sequel could exist much less should exist, seemed crazy. However, that’s what’s happening and the latest word on the project could turn out to be the best possible situation for a sequel.

    The most important part of a sequel to Joker, a rather complete, and self-contained film, is that it really needs something to set it apart from anything that has come before it. Phillips and DC have to make this special and something super aberrant; to do so, they have to go out of the box. This makes a musical the absolute best path for the sequel; it’s something entirely unexpected and puts the project on a whole new playing field. The first film was a deep character study into who Arthur Fleck was, and what led him down this path to becoming the man who toppled a city in mere few hours. A musical is the opportunity to explore who this new Arthur Fleck is, presumably becoming, solely, the Joker from now on.

    There were brief moments where we’d seen Arthur break out into random spurts of dance, experiencing moments of freedom for himself, after feeling so contained and restrained his entire life. The musical numbers could act as true expressions of who he is and who he has become; it’s an idea that is so far out of the box that could allow Phoenix to kick his performance into the next gear, and bring out some of that musical talent that we saw in Walk The Line.

    Perhaps the most interesting avenue that this musical concept could tackle is the romance between Joker and Harley Quinn. The news that Lady Gaga is in talks to potentially portray Harley Quinn in the film, a character who has risen to even higher levels of popularity via Margot Robbie’s portrayal, was as surprising as the news that the sequel was in development. The film could tackle the relationship between the characters that the DCEU had only scratched. The sequel could explore the blossoming relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn, the early moments where their love seemed so perfect. Their relationship, of course, is one of the most toxic and abusive in the DC Universe, but the film can actually focus on the romanticization of the situation between the two by tackling that early love through Joker’s manipulation of Quinzel in helping him escape, and him turning her into Harley Quinn. Imagine it as something akin to the “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” number from Birds of Prey, where Harley imagines her interrogation as a dance number, just on a larger scale throughout the sequel. It can be a play on the classic rom-com, a massive course change from the first film, portraying a “perfect romance” which in reality is just as awful as expected.

    Developing Joker: Folie À Deux as a musical is a creative and brilliant pivot from the first film, moving it into a completely new atmosphere and ensuring it doesn’t have to worry too much about riding the tails of the first film. It’s a fun idea that if executed well could be yet another unique, and fresh entry into the ever-expanding world of comic book media.

  • What “Folie à Deux” Could Mean For the ‘Joker’ Sequel

    What “Folie à Deux” Could Mean For the ‘Joker’ Sequel

    2019’s Joker was a box office hit that was met with equal measures of controversy and praise. The film grossed over $1B worldwide, but the real surprise was the performance Joaquin Phoenix put on, which earned him the Best Actor Award at the 2020 Academy Awards. The news of a sequel comes as a shock for many as first of all, Phoenix has really never been much for sequels. Secondly, Joker’s ending didn’t seem to leave a lot for the character to do in a sequel, but the film’s title could provide some clues to how it might play out.

    When translated to English the subtitle for the film’s sequel translates to “Madness for two”, but is often defined as “an identical or similar mental disorder affecting two or more individuals, usually the members of a close family.” With that in mind, here are a couple of ways that could apply to the plot of the sequel.

    The Imposter

    One avenue this film could follow is to pick up immediately following the events of Joker, and focus on the effects of Arthur Fleck’s influence on Gotham. Following the riots his debut as the Joker unleashed, the sequel could portray a Gotham up in flames and full of citizens in clown masks, inspired by Arthur to turn life in Gotham on its head. The sequel could directly tackle this by introducing a faux Joker, someone who fills the void left by Arthur’s absence and continues to raise hell in the city while Fleck sits in Arkham.

    Interestingly enough, in an interview with GQ, Willem Dafoe pitched the idea of a sequel following an imposter alongside Phoenix’s Fleck. Dafoe clarified that it was merely a hypothetical, but Folie a Deux could provide an opportunity for WB to cash in on the popular fancast of Dafoe as the Joker, similar to how Marvel Studios brought in John Krasinski to play Reed Richards in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness.

    Casting another major star alongside Phoenix and pitting him against Fleck for the title of Clown Prince of Crime could be a lot of fun on screen. The idea also seems to fit with the film’s subtitle, teasing a counterpart with a mentality similar to Fleck’s.

    Family Conflict

    Alternatively, the chip away at the part of the definition of Folie a Deux that ties in nicely with one of the most controversial reveals from the first film. In Joker, it is hinted that Arthur Fleck is the illegitimate son of Thomas Wayne and half-brother to Bruce Wayne. While Thomas deflects these claims and tells Arthur his mother was delusional and crazy, the sequel could explore this claim and set up a confrontation between Fleck and Wayne.

    The first film included the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne that sends Bruce down the path to becoming Batman. However, the fact that the killer was wearing a clown mask and was clearly inspired by Fleck can allow Bruce to focus his vengeance on the man who lit the fire in Gotham.

    Such a plot for the sequel could feature a time jump and be set sometime in the 90s, which would allow for it to feature a grown Bruce Wayne, who has become somewhat of an insane vigilante. It’s a crazy and ambitious idea to hypothetically introduce yet another Batman while we’ve got Michael Keaton, Robert Pattinson, and Ben Affleck still running around in the cape and cowl, but it could work.

    No matter what they do with a potential sequel to Joker, it’ll be very interesting to see where Phoenix takes the character and just how he elevates and changes the performance for the return of Arthur Fleck.

    SOURCE: GQ

  • Warner Bros. Discovery Interested in ‘Joker’s Todd Phillips as DC Film’s Future Advisor

    Warner Bros. Discovery Interested in ‘Joker’s Todd Phillips as DC Film’s Future Advisor

    The major shake-ups at Warner Bros. Discovery come as a shock to nobody as it seemed like the company has long been trying to get things together. The newly named CEO, David Zaslav, has been sorting things out swiftly as hes gone out with the old and in with the new. Recent news of Toby Emmerich‘s exit has brought news of another development at WBD. The company has DC as a priority, a brand with an incredible amount of potential that they felt has been squandered in the past few years, and looks to be reaching out to a familiar face for help.

    The Hollywood Reporter shared that Zaslav reportedly reached out to co-writer and director of 2019’s Joker film, Todd Phillips, to ask him to get a bit more involved over at DC Entertainment. His film was a resounding hit for the studio, scoring over a billion at the box office, shockingly outgrossing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on a $60+ million budget. The role is purely that of an advisory role with Phillips not currently set to serve in an executive role at the studio.

    This is a bit of an odd move for the studio to make, while Joker was indeed incredibly profitable for the studio, its not particulary the direction they should be moving in with the brand. It was a story seperate from the mainline DC Extended Universe, creating yet another earth in the ever expanding multiverse within the shared universe. THR even states that while Phillips has quite limited knowledge on the DC Universe, Zaslav and Phillips have reached an understanding on the situation with the current state of DC.

    This is an interesting move for Warner Bros. Discovery but not one that could have a great effect on whats to come as if things pan out, it is only an advisory role within DC Entertainment.

    Source: THR

  • How DC’s Movies May Survive the Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    How DC’s Movies May Survive the Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    The Warner Bros Discovery merger has led to a lot of uncertainty regarding the current plans for the DC Extended Universe. It was reported just a few weeks ago that the studio was looking to overhaul DC Entertainment and looking for a Kevin Feige-like figure to lead its film universe into something similar to that of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    With the overhaul, some casualties were bound to happen and the first of what could be many is Wonder Twins. What was initially planned to be an HBO Max exclusive is now dead in the water, just a few weeks after casting its leads with the intent to film this summer. The message this sends is that anything not already far along in development, or in front of cameras, is on the chopping block.

    There are currently many live-action DC projects in the works at Warner Bros Discovery and a lot of them have made little movement since being announced. Some projects, while having had little movement, could still very well be happening due to the fact that they can fit within a universe moving forward, while others won’t be as lucky. With that in mind, we take a closer look at previously announced DC films and what we expect to see happen with them.

    Hourman – Our Guess: Dead

    We have heard very little about this project since it was announced last March, and that seems to be a trend amongst many of these projects. Hourman seems like something Warner Bros would ax quite quickly due to its status, but the project could just hit the shelves for now. Then again, Hourman could be seen as viable to the studio depending on the success and reception of the Justice Society of America in Black Adam. The studio could also evaporate the movie and move the character into a future JSA project as a new character. 

    Plastic Woman – Our Guess: Dead

    Another film that has had absolutely no movement on it since it was announced is Plastic Woman. The film was expected to a genderbent Plastic Man and was set to be written by Cat Vasko. Interestingly enough, Vasko was brought on to take the project in a new direction as it was initially set to follow Patrick O’Brian. The character could find a place in a new DC extended universe, but this project is likely to be another casualty of the overhaul. 

    Bad Robot’s Justice League Dark Projects – Our Guess: Safe

    These are probably some of the most anticipated projects with characters like Zatanna, Constantine, and Madame Xanadu set to make their DC Extended Universe debut. It has been radio silent on projects like Zatanna and Madame X, but Constantine looks to have already found its lead and is aiming to begin production later this year.

    These projects are being produced through a deal between Warner Bros Discovery and Bad Robot. With that in mind, it’s hard not to think these are safe, especially as many of these projects are planned to all lead into each other with a Netflix Defenders-like setup for a Justice League Dark crossover.

    Blackhawks – Our Guess: Dead

    Blackhawks was originally announced back in 2018 with Steven Spielberg attached as a producer. At the time, there were suggestions he could ultimately go on to helm the project too, but just as quickly as it was announced, the project seemed to go silent. Writer David Koepp provided an update stating the script was done, but leadership changes had stalled the project. This is a project that will most likely end up on the chopping block, most likely because it doesn’t fit anywhere in the DC Extended Universe. Who knows? If a follow-up is made to Birds of Prey, it is entirely possible Lady Blackhawk could make her live-action debut there instead.

    Static Shock – Our Guess: Safe

    Not to kick anyone while they’re down, because this one is really gonna sting if it hits the bin, but Static Shock has seen no movement since being announced. The movie was officially announced during DC’s Fandome in August 2020, and a couple of months later, Michael B. Jordan was confirmed to be producing the project. Despite the fanfare, though, it has been quiet, but in this instance, that might not be a bad thing as the project is part of a first-look deal with Jordan.

    The sheer popularity of the character is another driving factor, too, as to why I feel it is safe. Static Shock s an iconic staple of the DC Universe and has many fans, this is a viable project, so it would be a shame to see it canned.

    Wonder Woman 3 – Our Guess: Safe

    This is a no-brainer, this project is happening no matter what. The Wonder Woman films have been far too successful for this to be scrapped. While the second film was not as well-received as the first, it was still very successful with its HBO Max release and has some of the service’s strongest streaming numbers, raking up 3.2 million streams on the service with a dual release in theaters towards the end of 2020. While this one could still be a bit away due to Gal Gadot’s packed schedule, it will likely find a home in the future of the DC Extended Universe. 

    Nightwing – Our Guess: Shelved

    Nightwing was announced back in 2017 with Chris McKay set to direct the film from a script by Chris Dubuque, but of course, it has since fallen into limbo with a plethora of other projects. This is a project that could still happen, though, with rumors of Dick Grayson making his DC Extended Universe debut in the upcoming Batgirl solo film with a spin-off in mind. As it stands, though, we have no clue if McKay is still involved and if Dubuque’s script can even be used. 

    Black Canary – Our Guess: Safe

    Black Canary is a spin-off to 2020’s Birds of Prey and The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn and it was only just announced last year. The project is set to feature Jurnee Smollet-Bell reprising her role with Misha Green set to pen the script. I feel this project will be safe because the upcoming Batgirl film will reportedly lead into this project, and Easter eggs have been spotted on the set of Batgirl hinting at the character’s appearance in the film. Black Canary is set to release exclusively on HBO Max, but there is always the chance the movie makes its way to theaters instead. 

    Joker 2 – Our Guess: Safe

    This is an interesting situation as this is a film that does not fit at all with what Warner Bros Discovery is looking to do, but it’s a film that they’re interested in making more of. Variety reported that the studio saw Joker as the prime example of how characters who usually are not the protagonist can be taken and explored deeper. While many don’t believe the story needs to – or should continue – the first film is the most profitable comic book movie of all time, grossing over a billion dollars at the box office on a $64 billion budget. 

    Matt Reeve’s Plans – Our Guess: Safe

    The Batman was yet another resounding success for everyone involved, welcoming us to a new Gotham City with an all-new caped crusader. Many are on the edge of their seat, hoping Matt Reeves‘ plans do not get caught in the crossfire of the DC overhaul to meet an early end. These projects like The Batman sequel, the Arkham series, and The Penguin series will most likely be safe due to the success of the film both critically and financially. Let’s not forget, The Batman also became the highest viewed film on HBO Max in its first week, beating every day and date release last year. It would not be very beneficial for Warner Bros Discovery to stop these projects now, just as they’re all getting going. 

    Ta-Nehisi Coates Superman – Our Guess: Safe

    Superman is a character directly mentioned in Variety’s exclusive on Warner Bros Discovery’s overhaul of DC entertainment, believing the character to be left in the dust and in need of a strong return. This project seems like the fresh start the studio would want for the character, it’s even rumored that the project, if possible, could use Henry Cavill as its Superman, although none of that has been confirmed. Toby Emmerich even stated at CinemaCon that progress on the next Superman film is being made, so it seems this project could indeed see the Man of Steel’s long-awaited return.

    We’re still in the dark about just what moves the new leadership will make next but it’s always possible WBD pulls the plug on something we thought was safe. For the film of things many of these projects still look to be safe for now but where things could get real choppy is the TV side of things, with many projects remaining facing an early grave.

    Source: Twitter, CBR

  • ‘The Batman’s Matt Reeves Confirms The Identity of [SPOILER]

    ‘The Batman’s Matt Reeves Confirms The Identity of [SPOILER]

    The Batman has finally found its way into theaters, as we get introduced to a very different cinematic take of the iconic character. Director Matt Reeves took a grounded take on the franchise to offer a refreshing direction for the characters, which also included quite a few curious teases for the future of the new franchise. Robert Pattinson has teased his interest in tackling a trilogy in this new take on the Dark Knight, but Reeves has confirmed one major addition.

    The rest of the article tackles a big spoiler from the film’s final moments. So, only continue at your own risk if you haven’t seen The Batman yet.

    In the closing moments, Edward Nashton realizes that his original intention to break down Gotham has failed with Batman coming out on top. During this scene in Arkham, we are introduced to a fellow cellmate that has a very recognizable voice belonging to Barry Keoghan. We never get a good look at his design, but a familiar laugh hinted that this might be The Batman’s take on the Joker. Luckily, IGN shared a video interview where director Matt Reeves not only confirms it but also hints at his take of the character.

    You know because the movie is not an origin tale of Batman, but it’s his early days. It really is an origin tale for the rogue’s gallery characters. The scene is not meant to be there to say: “Here’s an Easter egg, the next film is X.” I don’t know that the Joker will be in the next movie, but I can tell you here is what you’re seeing is an early days version of the character, trouble is, as always, brewing in Gotham.

    Matt Reeves

    The most interesting addition is that he declares that this is a version of the character that he’s “a Joker that is not yet a Joker” and the design was molded after the character’s original inspiration, the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs. So, while it doesn’t mean we’ll definitely see the character appear. He also hints that the take of the character is a man with a disease that constantly is stuck smiling and the way this character would be shaped by it. “Life has been a cruel joke on him” was his biggest tease on Keoghan‘s character and we’ll see when he might make his appearance in a future entry.

    Source: YouTube

  • Todd Phillips Signs on to Co-Write Potential ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Todd Phillips Signs on to Co-Write Potential ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Joker was one of DC’s and WB’s most unique projects, as it dived deep into the psyche of a man who’d been beaten down and forgotten by the people around him. The film was a smashing success after bringing in over a billion dollars in its total box-office haul on a budget of just $55M. Not only was it a financial success, but the film also made headlines being the first to score the most nominations for one film at the Oscars and taking home two awards for best score and best actor. With success like that, it seemed like a viable path to continue down. It looks like we might get just that.

    There have been countless rumors surrounding the project for some time now, and it was previously uncertain if the franchise would remain a one-time event. Just a few weeks ago, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the studio was still developing a sequel but no other word was given on the status of the project. It’s now being reported by THR that writer/director Todd Phillips has signed onto return to co-write the potential sequel but no word if he’ll be jumping back into the director’s chair.

    While it seems like the sequel is still in very early phases, it could show us what Gotham is like post-Joker’s riot. Towards the end of the film, we see the city in flames, as masked citizens ran rampant through the streets. Our titular character got taken into custody as he smiled upon the movement that he started. The potential next entry could explore multiple characters’ stories as they take on the clown’s ideals. Perhaps there is more than just one Joker after all.

    Source: THR