Is Joker 2 Really a Musical? The Exciting Truth Revealed!
Joker 2 is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2024! With Marvel releasing only Deadpool this year, the spotlight is on Joker: Folie à Deux to take the superhero genre by storm in the latter half of 2024.
However, a burning question lingers after the initial trailer drop: is Joker 2 a musical? The cast and crew have been somewhat evasive about the film’s genre, leaving fans speculating about how much of a musical extravaganza Joaquin Phoenix’s latest project truly is.
Let’s delve into everything we’ve heard from interviews and sneak peeks to determine whether Joker 2 is poised to become the superhero world’s answer to The Greatest Showman or if it aligns more with the likes of Les Misérables.
Rumors of a Musical From the Start
Director Todd Phillips first teased Joker: Folie à Deux on Instagram in June 2022, coinciding with reports that Lady Gaga was in talks to play Harley Quinn. This buzz hinted that the film would embrace a musical format, showcasing Gaga’s legendary vocal talent alongside Phoenix, who previously displayed his singing chops as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.
The film’s composer, Hildur Guðnadóttir—who won an Oscar for her work on the first film—added fuel to the fire in September 2023, stating to ComicBook.com: “All I can say is there is going to be a lot of music. That’s all I can give away.”
In March 2024, Variety reported insider claims that Joker 2 is “mostly a jukebox musical,” featuring at least 15 popular songs and potentially original compositions. This all pointed toward a full-fledged musical experience.
Musical Elements Hint at Something Bigger
The intrigue deepened when the first teaser for Joker 2 dropped in April, showcasing several vibrant dance sequences with Joker and Harley. Yet, it remained unclear if the characters would actually break into song.
Subsequent trailers teased even more musical elements, including Arthur Fleck singing the classic “When You’re Smiling” while gazing at a TV in prison. In a pivotal moment, Gaga and Phoenix shared a tentative duet of “Get Happy,” suggesting a film steeped in musicality while stopping short of being a traditional musical.
In August, Variety unveiled that Arthur (Phoenix) and Harley (Gaga) would burst into songs like “For Once in My Life” and “That’s Life” to express their shifting emotions. This certainly sounds musical, but Todd Phillips seemed hesitant, insisting that much of the music is simply Arthur conveying feelings he can’t articulate through dialogue.
Lady Gaga Weighs In
At the Venice Film Festival, where Folie À Deux premiered, Lady Gaga clarified, “I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is a musical. The way the music is used is to give the characters a way to express what they need to say because the scene and dialogue are just not enough.”
To add to the confusion, Gaga announced Harlequin, a companion soundtrack album featuring 13 tracks released on September 27, which includes covers like “Get Happy,” “That’s Entertainment,” and “That’s Life.”
Why the Genre Ambiguity?
It’s intriguing that Joker 2 is adopting marketing strategies typical of musicals while appearing reluctant to fully embrace the genre. This has also been noted with films like Wonka, The Color Purple, and Mean Girls, which are clearly musicals but haven’t been marketed as such.
While Phillips may sidestep the musical label, it seems evident that Joker 2 indeed has strong musical components. With Phoenix and Gaga’s undeniable singing talent, it’s likely their characters will perform together in a musical showcase—whether real or imagined.
This shift in storytelling from the gritty, grounded narrative of the first Joker, which stripped away the fantastical elements of previous adaptations, presents an exciting new direction. Given that the original Joker earned over $1.08 billion worldwide, there’s a strong chance Joker: Folie À Deux could become the highest-grossing musical of all time!
