Todd Phillips Hints at Time Jump in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is generating a lot of buzz, with fans eagerly awaiting the return of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and the debut of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The film promises a wild blend of chaos and chemistry between Joker and Harley, further intensified by including musical numbers. As anticipation builds for the film’s September release, new details have emerged from an interview Todd Phillips gave to Variety.

The report reveals that ‘Folie à Deux’ takes a two-year time jump from the events of the 2019 ‘Joker’, where Arthur Fleck was last seen in Arkham Asylum after murdering late-night host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro). 

Image Courtesy: People

The sequel starts with a ‘Looney Tunes-inspired cartoon starring the Joker,’ animated by Sylvain Chomet of ‘The Triplets of Belleville’ fame. Todd Phillips calls this film the biggest gamble of his career, aiming to create something that feels like it was made by “crazy people.” He explains, “The inmates are running the asylum.”

Phillips elaborates on the film’s musical elements, noting that much of the music is woven into the dialogue. “It’s just Arthur not having the words to say what he wants to say, so he sings them instead,” he explains, offering a glimpse of what was teased in the previous trailer. He’s quick to clarify that the musical sequences aren’t like traditional movie musicals, such as *In the Heights*, but instead, they exist largely within the imaginations of Arthur and Harley. “No disrespect, because I loved *In the Heights*,” Phillips adds.

Image Courtesy: People

From what’s been revealed, ‘Joker 2’ promises to be a thrilling ride, combining musical numbers with prison riots, courtroom drama, and even a “variety-show sequence” featuring Phoenix and Gaga as a homicidal version of Sonny & Cher. Fans should prepare for the mayhem and madness that the sequel is set to deliver.

‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is set to hit theatres on 4th October.

–Farheen Ali