Joker 2 is reportedly in the works following the immense success of the first Joker Movie. This makes more sense as opposed to another DC villain film.
No details about the plot, the creative team, or the cast of Joker 2 have been revealed since there is no word on who will direct and write the script. Many fans and critics have shown their desire on giving the other DC villains their own Joker-like films. However, from the studio perspective, a second Joker movie makes more sense. What made Joker enormously successful was its worldwide box office numbers. Having an $80 million dollar budget, Joker garnered $1.07 billion dollars globally, which made it one of Warner Bros.’s biggest successes but we should keep in mind that Joker’s financial success is not the only reason the studio is determined to make a sequel.
Why the Studio wants to release a sequel of Joker
Batman has always been one of the studio’s most popular IPs for as long as The Dark Knight has been in media, whether it be TV shows, movies, video games, or merchandise. Although Joker is not a Batman movie it is still somewhat related and set in that DC universe which makes the audience so fascinated and drawn towards it. Joker 2 would further carry this forward and we shall get more of Phillips’ Gotham City and especially what his Batman might look like, after Arthur and young Bruce’s interaction. Out of every Batman villain, Joker is the most iconic and recognizable, with his heart-wrenching back story and even to non-comic readers with his quirky traits and clown makeup.
We must also keep in mind the veteran actors that have played Joker over the years. In February last year, Phoenix became the second actor to ever earn an Academy Award for playing the Joker, following the steps of the late Heath Ledger, who won an Oscar in 2009 for his outstanding Joker portrayal in The Dark Knight. After this, Joker won 11 academy awards in the 2020 Oscars and was even nominated for best film, which is extremely rare for movies in the superhero genre. Joker was also nominated in multiple categories in The Golden Globes award, and even won some. Thus it is pretty obvious that with a movie as critically acclaimed and financially successful as Joker, the Warner Bros would want to go forward with Joker 2.
Possibilities of other Villain movies?
If the sequel of Joker turns out to be a success, which it most likely will be, then it is possible that the Warner Bros might want to explore other DC villain’s backstories. If the studio wants to expand the DC Black-inspired brand further, they will have to think outside Joker 2 and look at other DC villains who have the potential to do equally well as Joker, if not more.
