Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie a Deux.
Joker: Folie a Deuxmight be Todd Phillips' lastDCmovie, but it has left numerous opportunities for perfect sequels, or spin-offs based on other characters.Joker: Folie a Deuxhas received pretty mixed reviews, suggesting that a further installment in theJokerseries would be unwise. Indeed, Todd Phillips has said that he won’t make another DC project. However, he claimed something similar afterJoker, so that might not be wholly sacrosanct. Nevertheless,Joker: Folie a Deuxset up several narratives that would be ideal for another movie.
Joker: Folie A Deuxdelivers a chaotic and psychological follow-up toJoker(2019). It blends musical elements and psychological drama with Joaquin Phoenix’s unsettling portrayal of Arthur Fleck andLady Gaga’s electrifying turn as Harley Quinn. Despite Phillips stating that he won’t direct another DC movie, the film leaves several potential storylines open for further exploration in the DC universe.
8Joker 3
Arthur Fleck’s Story May Not Be Over
At theend ofJoker: Folie A Deux, Arthur Fleck has renounced the Joker persona and is fatally stabbed by another inmate at Arkham Asylum. This seems like a definitive end to his story. However, throughoutJoker: Folie a Deuxit’s unclear how much is real and how muchhappened only in Arthur Fleck’s mind.Joker: Folie A Deuxrepeatedly blurs the lines between reality, leaving open the possibility that his apparent death (or indeed the entire movie) could be another figment of his imagination.
This ambiguity offers a potential narrative route forJoker 3, where Arthur could either have imagined or survived being stabbed. A third installment could further explore the psyche of Arthur Fleck, with the idea that theboundaries between his fantasies and the real world are continuing to collapse. It could also delve into the idea of Arthur fully embracing his Joker persona while dealing with the aftermath of the events inJoker: Folie a Deux.
7A Sequel Based On The New Joker
Joker: Folie A Deux Introduced The Real Joker
Joker: Folie A Deuxalso introduces the idea of a “real” Joker, distinct from Arthur Fleck. Throughout the film, Arthur’s influence over Gotham’s downtrodden is significant, but by the end, some inmates, including one in particular, idolize him. However, after Arthur gave up the Joker persona,many grow disillusioned with him. One of these is the young Arkham inmate who killed Arthur, who is implied to be the “true” Joker. This inmate is last seen carving a smile into his face like earlier cinematic Jokers.
All 6 Of Joker’s Murder Victims Explained (& Why He Killed Them)
Joker 2 confirmed that Arthur Fleck killed six people during his infamous crime spree in 2019’s Joker, each reflecting his descent into villainy.
This opens the door for a sequel focused on this new Joker, allowing a fresh take on the character that could distinguish itself from Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck. A film following this Joker’s rise to power, detailing his origin story and eventual reign of terror in Gotham, could provide a new direction for the serieswhile keeping the central theme of the Joker’s chaotic influence over the city. This storyline could continue the gritty, psychological tone established in theJokerfilms but with a fresh face and different motivations at the center.
6A Harley Quinn Spin-Off
Lady Gaga’s Performance Was Widely Celebrated
Lady Gaga’s performance as Harley Quinn inJoker: Folie A Deuxwas one of the film’s highlights, and her arc leaves several threads unresolved that could be addressed by a spin-off. By the end of the film,Harley’s fate remains uncertain, and there’s a strong possibility that she may be pregnant. A Harley Quinn spin-off could explore her life after Arthur Fleck, possibly delving into how she continues to cope with her relationship with him and the psychological toll of their shared delusions.
Furthermore, with Arthur seemingly dead, aFolie a Deuxspin-off could explore Harley becoming obsessed with the new Joker. Her journey could take a darker turn as she tries to recapture the intensity and chaos of her relationship with Arthur by aligning herself with this new version of the Joker, perhaps even getting much darker. A solo Harley Quinn movie would allow for a deeperexploration of her psyche and the consequences of her time with Arthur, as well as her potential descent further into madness.
5Two-Face’s Descent To Villainy
Joker: Folie A Deux Introduced Harvey Dent
Joker: Folie A Deuxintroduces Harvey Dent, Gotham’s district attorney, as the prosecutor in Arthur Fleck’s trial. However, Dent’s story takes a tragic turn when a car bomb explodes outside the courthouse, leaving him with his iconic facial disfigurement. While his role inFolie A Deuxis relatively minor, the filmsets up the perfect origin story for a Two-Face movie. A potential sequel could depict Harvey Dent’s descent into villainy, exploring how the bomb not only scars him physically but also mentally fractures his sense of justice.
Gotham’s corrupt and decaying society could be the perfect backdrop for Two-Face’s rise as a major antagonist, aligning with the dark tone of the Joker series. Much like Arthur Fleck’s transformation into the Joker, Harvey Dent’s arc could show how a well-meaning public servant is driven to madness by Gotham’s oppressive structures, resulting in a tragic, complex villain. Two-Face could emerge as a figure who, like Arthur, isdisillusioned with the idea of justice and order in a world that has failed him.
4Bruce Wayne Is Now A Teenager
Joker Introduced Bruce Wayne
While Bruce Wayne doesn’t appear inJoker: Folie A Deux, his existence was established inJoker, where the murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, set the stage for his eventual transformation into Batman. By the time ofFolie A Deux, Bruce Wayne would be a teenager,grappling with his parents' death and likely starting to channel his griefinto the early stages of becoming Gotham’s dark knight. A possible sequel could explore a grim, formative period in Bruce’s life, showing how he copes with his parents' murder and his growing awareness of Gotham’s corruption.
9 Biggest Changes Joker 2 Makes To DC Canon
Joker: Folie a Deux is set in a far more bleak and grimy world than usual, and as such made some notable changes to DC characters and narratives.
The movie could be less of a traditional superhero film and more of a psychological drama, similar toJoker, showing the psychological toll that Gotham’s violence takes on young Bruce. The story could delve into his relationship with the criminal elements of Gotham, particularly the Joker and his followers, as Bruce begins his transformation into the city’s protector. Much likeJoker, a grim Bruce Wayne moviecould focus entirely on his journey, not officially donning the cape and cowl until the end of the movie.
3Joker’s Followers Are Still Terrorizing Gotham City
The Joker Riots Continue
Despite Arthur Fleck’s apparent rejection of the Joker persona at the end ofJoker: Folie A Deux, his followers are still wreaking havoc across Gotham. The chaos that Arthur ignited in the first Joker film has spiraled out of control, with anarchists andcriminals continuing to terrorize the city in the Joker’s name. A potential sequel could explore how Gotham deals with the fallout of this ongoing violence, with the city’s authorities struggling to regain control.
The search for a new figurehead among the Joker’s followers could lead to the rise of other infamous characters from the Batman rogues’ gallery, such as Punchline, who could take up the mantle of chaos in the Joker’s absence. Alternatively, the rise of vigilantes like Bruce Wayne orother law enforcement figures such as Commissioner Gordon could provide an interesting conflictas Gotham spirals further into anarchy. The idea of Joker-inspired criminals could expand the narrative beyond Arthur Fleck, showing how his ideology has corrupted Gotham even after his death.
2Arthur’s Visitor Remains A Mystery
Arthur Was Visited By Somebody In Akrham
In the climactic moments ofJoker: Folie A Deux, Arthur Fleck is on his way to meet an unknown visitor when he is stabbed and seemingly killed by the new Joker. Theidentity of this visitor is never revealed, leaving a tantalizing mystery at the heart of the film. This unanswered question opens up several possibilities for future sequels. Could the visitor be Harley Quinn, attempting to rekindle her bond with Arthur? Could it be a member of the Joker’s cult, seeking guidance or revenge?
Every DC Character In Joker 2
Joker: Folie a Deux introduced some classic DC characters into Arthur Fleck’s grim vision of Gotham City, but with distinctive updates.
Or could it be another iconic villain from Gotham’s dark underworld, such as the Riddler or Scarecrow, looking to form an alliance or manipulate Arthur for their own ends? The visitor’s identitycould significantly shape the future of this dark, gritty universe, providing a pathway for new characters to be introduced or old ones to return. AJoker: Folie a Deuxsequel could explore who this person was and what their intentions were, whether they sought to help Arthur or exploit him.
1An Arkham Asylum Series
Arkham Asylum Is At The Forefront In Joker: Folie A Deux
Arkham Asylum plays a central role inJoker: Folie A Deuxand its eerie, oppressive atmosphere wouldbe the perfect setting for a spin-off series. An Arkham Asylum TV series could explore the lives of other inmates in this twisted facility, delving into the backstories of some of Gotham’s most infamous criminals. This would be an ideal platform to explore lesser-known characters from the Batman rogues' gallery, each of whom could be given their own episode or arc.
Additionally, the series could focus on the staff at Arkham, particularly Brendan Gleeson’s Jackie Sullivan,one of the most memorable new characters introducedinFolie A Deux. AnArkham Asylum series was being producedas part of Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe, but it was ultimately canceled when the DCU was rebooted. AJoker: Folie a Deuxspin-off series could finally satisfy this. The darker, more grounded tone of theJokerfilms would lend itself perfectly to a psychological thriller/horror series exploring the minds of Gotham’s most notorious criminals.
Joker
Cast
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
