Joker 2: Release date, trailer, cast, title, plot & more

Lucy-Jo Finnighan
Actors Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker 2

Here’s everything we know about the Joker 2 release date, what Folie à Deux means, the cast, and the plot.

Joker Folie à Deux‘s buzz has been at a 10 on the Richter scale, which isn’t surprising given the blockbuster success of Todd Philips’ gritty original film.

A dark spin on legendary Batman villain the Joker’s origin story, the first film was a hit at the Oscars and became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

As such, expectations for Joker 2 are incredibly high. It’s the first of the upcoming DC movies, so let’s dive into it.

Contents

Joker 2 release date: When is it coming out?

Joker 2 releases on Friday, October 4, 2024, in cinemas.

Phillips marked the start of production in December 2022 when he posted a photo on Instagram. It shows Arthur Fleck/The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) looking serious as he receives a shave from an unknown figure – possibly a staff member at Arkham Asylum, where Arthur is a patient.

Joker 2 also hasn’t been impacted by production delays.

Has Joker 2 finished filming?

Yes — production on Joker 2 wrapped in April 2023.

Filming began back in December 2022, taking place in Los Angeles. Asylum scenes were believed to be filmed at the now-shut Essex County Isolation Hospital.

Additional scenes were also filmed in New York’s Bronx.

Is Joker 2 a musical?

Joker 2 has musical sequences but allegedly isn’t a full-fledged musical.

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker 2. They stand together in pitch bdarkness, Arthur dressed as his Joker persona.
Joker 2 has “lots of music”.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, shared, “All I can say is there is going to be a lot of music. That’s all I can give away.”

There will probably be choreographed dancing and perhaps singing from Gaga, but scenes will likely be stylized in the same vein as Arthur’s stairs scene from Joker. Arthur seems off-the-wall in this sequel, so they might take place in his imagination and nowhere else.

Joker 2 cast: Who’s in it?

Joaquin Phoenix will return as the Clown Prince of Crime in Joker 2. He’s joined by new co-lead Lady Gaga, who stars as iconic DC villain Harley Quinn.

The Joker 2 cast list includes:

  • Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker
  • Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
  • Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond
  • Brendan Gleeson
  • Catherine Keener
  • Jacob Lofland
  • Harry Lawtey
  • Troy Metcalf

Looking wider afield, Zazie Beetz will reprise her Joker role, Sophie Dumond, though how she fits into the film is currently unclear.

Other cast members also include Brendan Gleeson (Paddington 2), Catherine Keener (Get Out), Harry Lawtey (Industry), and Jacob Lofland (The Maze Runner).

Lofland is said to be playing a fellow inmate of Arkham Asylum. Meanwhile, Gleeson, Keener, and Lawtey’s roles remain unknown.

What does Folie à Deux mean?

Since Folie à Deux roughly means “delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association,” expect Joker 2 to follow Harley Quinn and Arthur Fleck on a love-infused spiral.

It’s expected that the title will heavily influence both the plot and the style of the movie.

Joker 2 plot: What’s it about?

Joker 2 heads to Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison is home to Gotham’s worst criminals — and often the place where members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery grow closer.

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker 2. They touch noses through Arthur's prison cell bars.

In most DC lore, Harleen Quinzell, a trainee psychiatrist, is brought into Arkham to work with patients. She soon works with Joker, whose chaotic psyche and manipulation fascinate her. He convinces an increasingly unhinged and out of her depth Harleen to help him break out. She’s reborn as Harley Quinn, his sidekick and often abused love interest.

It looks like Folie à Deux will subvert this to some degree. Lady Gaga’s Harley already looks far gone, with a wild look in her eyes and makeup streaked on her face. This should make for a different power balance, with Philips’ version of Joker less of a monster than in the comics.

Joker 2 trailer

The first full teaser trailer released on April 9, 2024.

This full trailer gave us our first proper look at the sequel and its musically-inclined story.

While we wait for the sequel to hit the big screens later this year, find out where you can watch all of the Batman live-action movies, when Joker died in the comics, and find out more about The Batman 2’s release. You can also find even more amazing movies to stream this month.

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About The Author

Lucy-Jo is a Movies and TV Writer at Dexerto, and has previously written for Screen Rant and Girls on Tops. After earning a Master's Degree in Film and Literature, Lucy-Jo now loves covering films, TV shows, and anime, especially if it's something by Mike Flanagan, or anything drenched in camp. You can contact her at lucyjo.finnighan@dexerto.com