Director Todd Phillips is reportedly returning to co-write Joker 2. Though it’s unclear whether he’ll also be directing the sequel, he’ll no doubt bring the same flair that he brought for the highly-acclaimed Joker.
Fans are no doubt excited to see him return since his work on Joker earned Joaquin Phoenix a place on the list of iconic portrayals of the character.
A popular study from Game reported that Marvel heroes are more popular than DC heroes. But when it comes to DC villains, there is none more well-known than the Joker. The popularity of this character means that it’s not just fans that know and love (or love to hate) him, but people outside of fandom.
When Joker director Todd Phillips first set out to make the film, he was met with much controversy. Audiences were concerned that its “sympathetic story of a man who turns to violence after feeling ostracized by society” represented “a dangerous message that such violence is justified.” People were afraid that such a depiction of violence would only exacerbate the existing threat of mass shootings.
The casting of Joaquin Phoenix also caused its own controversy among fans uncertain of whether or not he’d be able to live up to the legacy of Heath Ledger’s performance. Not only was Phoenix able to live up to it, but he also became the second actor (behind Ledger) to win an Oscar for Best Actor behind his portrayal.
While Joker was initially supposed to be a standalone film, director Todd Phillips had expressed interest early on in working on a sequel. Phillips’ return is the latest speculation on the project as not much else is known about it other than it is definitely happening.
Relive the iconic dancing-on-stairs moment that birthed a million memes and watch Joker on HBO Max.
