After Joaquin Phoenix’s 2019 DC flick Joker turned into a cultural phenomenon and earned more than a billion dollars at the box office, it seems Warner Bros. Discovery decided to invest more into Joker: Folie à Deux. Warner Bros is somehow no longer able to pull the trick of marketing Joker 2 as an indie or prestige flick like they did previously.
Perhaps, that’s the reason why, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker 2 recently made headlines for having more than tripled the budgetary cost of the 2019 film. However, Phoenix returning as the Clown Prince of Crime in this year’s Joker: Folie à Deux, with a massive increase in its budget, appears like a crazy gamble to fans.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker 2 Has a Massive Budget
Following the success of Joaquin Phoenix’s 2019 installment Joker, Warner Bros planned on making a sequel with Phoenix reprising his role as the Clown Prince of Crime, alongside Lady Gaga playing his love interest, Harley Quinn. But this time, the production studio seems to have invested a lot more than they previously did in the 2019 DC flick.
Previously, it was reported that Joaquin Phoenix‘s Joker (2019) was marketed as an indie and/or prestige flick, made with a $60M budget. But surprisingly, despite being a low-budget film, Phoenix’s movie managed to become a cultural phenomenon and earn more than $1B. Further, the actor even landed an Oscar win, for his titular role, like previously won by Heath Ledger.
Therefore, following the 2019 DC flick’s massive success, Warner Bros. Discovery appears to have gained the courage to invest more in Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s upcoming sequel Joker: Folie à Deux. Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker 2 is thus reported to have tripled the budget of the first film and has become $200M, as per Variety.
This splashy budget and the significant bump from the $60M cost of the first film to the $200M cost for Joker 2, is apparently a result of Joaquin Phoenix getting $20M to reprise his role, and Lady Gaga seeking $12M to play Harley Quinn. But while some fans argue that it is essential to spend big, when releasing movies in theaters, others express their concern.
Warner Bros’ Investment Appears as a Crazy Gamble
There has been a lot of debate surrounding Joaquin Phoenix’s upcoming Joker: Folie à Deux starring Lady Gaga, because of its increased budget. But most fans claim that while Hollywood is potentially suffering from superhero fatigue, it is a risky gamble to invest $200M in Joker 2. No matter what the prequel managed to earn; considering the volatile condition of the market, fans believe it’s a risky move.
Especially since Joker 2 is taking the genre in a new direction, fans consider experimenting with such a ballooned budget foolish. Since this is the first time in the history of a Marvel/DC comic book movie, that Joker: Folie à Deux will be a musical while still maintaining the psychological thriller base, netizens believe the increased budget might turn into a gamble.
They better be telling some really funny jokes in this one cos the budget is crazy in comparison.
— tido! (@itsUmohEtido) February 21, 2024
This better be a 3 hour movie if it costs 200M and I’m all here for it.
— Bryce Young’s Season Is Over 🙏🏻 (@lionbear23) February 21, 2024
This is how I know it’s going to be bad
— Praveer Tiwari (@therealpraveer) February 21, 2024
that stat line is why it should fail. Lady gaga is not worth 12 Mill
— Arkhḗ (@Archaic3one) February 21, 2024
Big mistake.
— joey (@Fan_FlickOn) February 21, 2024
If I had to guess, the producers all got paid UP FRONT. The first movie grossing over a billion, and winning a ton of awards definitely guaranteed those producers to get the money…but still, now the film is in this position where it has to perform.
Which, I don't think it…
— Matt Jarbo (@mjarbo) February 21, 2024
for a musical, bomb incoming.
Don't think they understand why the 1st one got the 1 Billi
— Born2Tease (@Born2TeasexXx) February 21, 2024
200mil is alot fr but the movie better be worth it or else it gonna flop so bad in the box office.
— Femi (@femiszn_) February 21, 2024
But right now, no one knows what shall happen, for Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker: Folie à Deux coming out as a musical without knowing how the audience will respond, can go either way. Joker 2 might become another smash hit like its prequel, or it could turn into a failed experiment like fans are predicting. However, currently, it has been noted that Joker 2 will pick up sometime after the prequel and narrate the thrilling tale of Harley Quinn and Joker.
Joker: Folie à Deux is scheduled to release in theaters on October 4, 2024.
