Todd Phillips Bids Farewell To DC Universe With ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

Todd Phillips, the visionary behind the Joker franchise, has wrapped up his journey in the DC Universe. Five years after the 2019 release of Joker, which grossed over $1 billion and earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar, its much-anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, has now premiered, potentially marking the end of Phillips’ involvement with DC films.

The sequel centers around Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), who finds himself incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital, where he meets Harley Quinn, portrayed by Lady Gaga. At the Los Angeles premiere on Monday, Phillips spoke candidly about Gaga’s casting, noting his initial apprehension.

“I think we sent her half the script, and she texted me pretty quickly that she was really into it, that she loved it and everything you want to hear,” Phillips said. He recalled their first meeting about the role. “I went out to her house, and we met about what it was going to be, the rest of it, because we hadn’t written it yet. [Co-writer] Scott Silver and I are notoriously slow writers.”

Phillips also shared that he sees Folie à Deux as his final DC project, dismissing the possibility of a standalone Harley Quinn movie. “It’s not really where this movie is headed for me. I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films,” Phillips said, also reiterating his disinterest in a potential Joker 3. Before his work on Joker, Phillips directed The Hangover trilogy and War Dogs (2016).

Lady Gaga, meanwhile, has taken her portrayal of Harley Quinn beyond the screen by creating a companion album, Harlequin, in tandem with the film’s release. Gaga explained her deep connection with the character through music. “I think that creatively exploring this music and this character was a really special experience,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “It was a navigation around some private dark moments in my life… in this arena and in this film and in this story, it was just like the perfect place to put everything.”

Joker: Folie à Deux is set to hit theaters this Friday, offering audiences a new chapter in the chaotic life of Arthur Fleck.

Ron Rocky Coloma: Ron Rocky Coloma is the Founder and Director of Entertainment Flair, an editor and a writer who specializes in entertainment, fashion and lifestyle journalism. He is passionate about telling the stories of designers, artists and creatives, bringing their narratives to life and showcasing their talent and vision. At Entertainment Flair, Coloma continues to innovate and elevate the art of storytelling, striving to inspire and engage audiences with every piece of content he creates, which is viewed by audiences in 53 countries. Throughout his career, Coloma has contributed to esteemed publications such as Pacific Daily News (formerly part of the Gannett and USA TODAY NETWORK), The Guam Daily Post, Pacific Island Times, Affinity Magazine, MINT Magazine, Peninsula Press and The Stanford Daily. These experiences have honed his ability to craft compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Coloma has been invited to cover private industry shows at New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Copenhagen Fashion Week, Tokyo Fashion Week and Seoul Fashion Week, further solidifying his standing in the industry. These opportunities have enriched his understanding of global fashion trends and the visionary minds behind them. A proud alumnus of Stanford University, Coloma earned both his bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s degree in Communication with a focus on Data Journalism, all within an accelerated timeframe of four years. His academic journey at Stanford equipped him with a unique blend of storytelling prowess and data-driven insights, enabling him to deliver impactful and well-rounded narratives.
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