In just over two years, Warner Bros. will have Academy Award-winner Joaquin Phoenix and Grammy-winner Lady Gaga embody one of DC’s power couples in Joker: Folie a Deux. This film will follow the efforts of Warner Bros.’ most successful superhero movie to date, with Joker having been nominated for 11 Oscars, as Phoenix and Lady Gaga prepare for their first adventure as Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn.
Gaga’s involvement came as part of the announcement that Joker 2 would be a musical, something that will differentiate the franchise even further from the rest of the superhero genre. This was confirmed in the first piece of promotional material for the film, which showed images of Phoenix and Gaga's characters dancing with one another to Fred Astaire's classic song "Cheek to Cheek."
Outside of Phoenix's return and Gaga's introduction as Harley Quinn, story and production details for Joker 2 remain under wraps with filming not set to begin until sometime in 2023. But as those details are more fully developed, fans have just learned that the sequel is set to bring back a key player from the first movie that pushed the Joker's story forward in 2019.
Joker 2 Likely Brings Back Veteran Star
Deadline revealed that Zazie Beetz is in talks to join Warner Bros.' Joker sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux. She would reprise her role as Sophie Dumond that she played in the original Joker movie from 2019, although nothing has been finalized yet with her appearance in the sequel.
How Big Will Beetz's Role Be in Joker 2?
Zazie Beetz took on the role of Arthur Fleck's love interest in the original Joker, although their relationship was quite complicated with most of it only happening in Arthur's mind as an illusion. How their relationship grows and evolves with Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn now in the picture is a mystery, especially with both of them sure to bring out even more of the crazy in each other and Sophie's fate still unclear
Beetz had also recently spoken highly of the studio's decision to make Joker 2 a musical, praising Todd Phillips for his vision as the director and sharing how much she enjoys the musical side of the upcoming story.
This move comes alongside the discussion of Beetz's potential comeback on the Marvel side of things as well, as Marvel Studios moves closer to development for Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool 3. Beetz also played an important role as Domino in Deadpool 2, but with no release date set for the MCU sequel yet, there are still no signs whether the two movies would have any scheduling conflicts with shooting.
For now, Beetz is at least set for a second round of action in the DC universe as she reunites with Phoenix and Phillips.
Joker: Folie a Deux is set to debut in theaters on October 4, 2024.
