Todd Phillips' Joker Spin-Off? It Would Be Very Different Than You Think

The latest trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux reaffirms the presence of musical elements in the highly anticipated sequel, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Given this direction, it's not surprising that the film’s director, Todd Phillips, initially considered bringing the story to the stage.

A Theatrical Vision for Arthur Fleck

In a recent interview with Variety, Todd Phillips revealed that the idea of transitioning Arthur Fleck’s story to a Broadway stage was originally inspired by Joaquin Phoenix. However, the ambitious plan was quickly shelved due to logistical challenges. Phillips explained, "When we started thinking about it seriously, we realized that it takes at least four years to put something like this together. Would Joaquin really dedicate six months of his life to perform every night on stage? So we thought about bringing a smaller show to the Carlyle. But COVID hit."

The Birth of a Musical Film

Despite the challenges, the idea of Arthur Fleck/Joker expressing his inner turmoil through music intrigued Phillips, sparking the development of a new cinematic concept. Teaming up with co-writer Scott Silver, Phillips began crafting what would eventually become Joker: Folie à Deux. Five years later, the film is set to debut at the Venice Film Festival before its worldwide release in October.

Embracing Risk in Filmmaking

Todd Phillips acknowledges the inherent risks in creating such an unconventional film. "Why do something if it doesn't scare you to death?" the director muses. "I'm addicted to risk. It keeps you up at night, it makes your hair fall out. But it's the sweat that keeps you going." Reflecting on the challenging production process, Phillips adds, "The question became: How can we outdo ourselves? You can only do that if you do something risky. But there were days on set when you looked around and said, 'Damn! What have we done?'"

A Bold New Chapter for the Joker

Joker: Folie à Deux represents a bold new chapter for the character, pushing the boundaries of traditional filmmaking with its unique blend of drama and musical elements. As anticipation builds for the film's release, both fans and critics are eager to see how this daring vision unfolds on the big screen.