In his career based on quality and not quantity, Joaquin Phoenix has never done anything that is easily expected. He hasn’t had a sequel, has changed his look drastically over each film, removed himself from the mainstream as much as possible. He even went to the extent of destroying himself as a movie star for the mockumentary-spoof movie, “I’m still here” (2010). In the film, he goes on David Letterman’s show and makes a complete full of himself. He acts irreverent and absurd, only to get a reaction from the people around him. Directed by the equally eccentric Casey Affleck, the movie shows the darkness which prevails just beneath the glittery glamour of the tinsel town.
And when he took on a legendary-role like the Joker, the world awaited his portrayal. Whoever knew his potential knew that this was going to be madness beyond measure. And that’s precisely what we saw with Joker. The movie broke all records of an R-Rated Film. It was somehow converging real life and reel life in a way that only some movies do. The character is a societal outcast that takes on the world in his own wicked way while breaking societal norms that defy his moral character. The movie undoubtedly ignited hot takes by viewers who found the violence extensive; some said the events seemed too real. But that’s the thing with classic art, and it makes you question the very existence of it all. The Joker certainly did that for us.
And thus, begs the question, is this the movie that will break his unsaid vow of ‘no sequels’?
In an interview with the LA Times, the director of the movie, Todd Phillips, talked about the possibility of a sequel. He said in the very initial weeks only, Joaquin started talking about a sequel, partly jokingly. The Oscar-winning actor mentioned that there’s a lot to be explored in this character. This would be the anomaly in Joaquin’s butterfly-minded life. He has never had a role that would take two movies to tell. And yet we find him talking about one before the movie was ever released. We should be expecting good news!
The director said that they did not talk about one when they started the movie. It was supposed to be a one-off distinct from the DC world. But somewhere down the line, while making the movie, both the director and Joaquin wanted to find out more about this amazingly-believable version of the Joker. Although they won’t announce anything until they are confident there is another story that they know will speak volumes. And thus, even though there’s no official news, the sequel is very much on the cards. Depending upon when they find the story that resonates with the makers and, more importantly, a story that they think would resonate with the audiences as Todd Phillips interview and Phoenix’s personality dictate.
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