Joaquin Phoenix recently responded to reports regarding a ‘Joker’ sequel. Todd Phillips' Joker came out in 2019, becoming an unlikely blockbuster and the first R-rated movie to gross $1 billion at the box office. The movie provided a possible origin story for Phoenix's titular character, Arthur Fleck, an unsuccessful clown whose slip into cynicism inspires a turbulent revolution in Gotham City. Starring Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, and Marc Maron, Joker received praised for its thrilling performances and cinematography. The movie earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Since ‘Joker’ was a massive success, there were some natural discussions about following up on the movie with a potential sequel. Warner Bros., in fact, wanted the movie to spawn a new franchise called DC Black, which would feature experimental films different than those in the DCEU. But Phillips had reservations about continuing the story, as he had always pitched Joker to be a standalone film. Still, in November 2019, the director indicated that a sequel was possible, although it wasn't currently in development. After Phillips' comments, discussions about ‘Joker 2’ remained decidedly scant, although now, rumors are rife that the film is being planned, and Phillips has even committed to writing the screenplay. Currently, there is no official word on if the speculations are true.
In a conversation with The Playlist on Tuesday, Joaquin Phoenix revealed that he doesn't know if Joker 2 is in the works. He definitely thinks that there is a lot more to explore with the character, but whether or not would a sequel happen is something he is unsure about. During the interview, Phoenix also seemed to suggest that he'd be open to reprising his role for a sequel if it happens. Although he did not say that explicitly, his interest in playing an "interesting character" in an "interesting movie" could be read between the lines. -Screen Rant
