Joker\u00a0was a record-breaking $1 billion hit in 2019. Following its release, the movie received countless\u00a0award nominations, which eventually\u00a0saw Joaquin Phoenix win\u00a0a “Best Actor” Oscar for his role as Arthur Fleck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite him and filmmaker Todd Phillips vowing to never make a sequel, they reunited for\u00a0Joker: Folie \u00e0 Deux\u00a0and turned to singer and actress Lady Gaga to bring “Lee Quinzel” (a.k.a. Harley Quinn)\u00a0to life.<\/p>\n
Given a massive budget by Warner Bros.\u2014the studio seemed sure that more box office success would follow that first instalment\u2014Phoenix and Phillips got a tad self-indulgent with a musical that, ultimately, no one wanted to see (they’ve freely admitted to deciding to make a musical on a whim after previously discussing bringing Joker to Broadway).<\/p>\n
The movie’s failings were evident from a dismal $206 million haul at the global box office. As for\u00a0awards, the only major prizes\u00a0Joker: Folie \u00e0 Deux\u00a0won were “Worst Screen Combo” (Phoenix and Gaga) and “Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel” at the Razzies.<\/p>\n
Talking to The Wrap<\/a>,\u00a0Warner Bros. film heads Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca explained why they stand by the divisive DC sequel.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I really liked the movie. I still do,” Abdy said, prompting De Luca to add, “It was really revisionist. It may be that it was too revisionist for a global mainstream audience, but I thought that Todd and his screenwriting partner Scott [Silver]\u00a0did the thing that most people making sequels don\u2019t do, which is they decided to not repeat themselves.”<\/p>\n “I do give them immense props for not repeating themselves, but it just turned out to not connect with the audience,” the executive added.<\/p>\n As of now, there are no concrete plans for either The Joker or Harley Quinn in DC Studios’ DCU. James Gunn’s apathy for Jared Leto closes the door on the\u00a0TRON: Ares\u00a0star returning as the Clown Prince of Crime, while\u00a0Margot Robbie appears to have moved on from Harley<\/a>.<\/p>\n