'Joker 2': Lady Gaga confirms role as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix in sequel

The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2019 hit may be a musical, according to reports

US actor Joaquin Phoenix in the press room with the Best Actor Oscar for 'Joker' during the 92nd Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on February 9, 2020. AFP

Director Todd Phillips and Phoenix with the Best Film Golden Lion for 'Joker' at the The 76th Venice Film Festival, which ran from August 28 to September 7, 2019. Reuters 

Phoenix was lauded for his performance in 'Joker' at the 76th Venice Film Festival. Getty Images

Phoenix as the Joker. Photo: Warner Bros Pictures

Phoenix in a scene from the film. Photo: Warner Bros Pictures via AP

Phillips, left, with Phoenix. AP

Phoenix won several awards for his portrayal of the titular character. Photo: Warner Bros Pictures via AP

Joaquin Phoenix attends the premiere for the film 'Joker' in Los Angeles, California, US, September 28, 2019. Reuters

Phoenix with his Leading Actor award for 'Joker' at the BAFTAs at the Royal Albert Hall in London on February 2, 2020. Reuters

Phoenix plays tortured wannabe comedian Arthur Fleck who becomes the Joker. Photo: IMDb

Phillips's acclaimed film was screened, accompanied by a live Armenian state chamber orchestra, at Dubai Opera. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Late actor Heath Ledger also achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of the Joker in 'The Dark Knight'.

It's the film Joaquin Phoenix won his first Oscar for as Best Actor. Now, the anticipated follow-up to the 2019 hit Joker has a release date and a confirmed co-star: Lady Gaga.

Todd Phillips will return to direct the project, titled Joker: Folie a Deux. It's a reference to the French medical term regarding a mental disorder of psychosis that is passed on from one person to another.

Joker followed the life of the tortured wannabe comedian Arthur Fleck, whose feelings of being downtrodden by society ultimately transform him into the infamous criminal mastermind.

The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, though it did not win either. While Joker was originally intended to be a stand-alone movie, its success at the box office as well as with critics have led to an obvious sequel.

Here’s everything we know about it so far.

When will 'Joker 2' be released?

Warner Bros has announced it will be released on October 4, 2024.

Who is in the film?

So far, Phoenix is the only known cast member to be returning from the first feature and was seen reading the script for the sequel in an Instagram post by Phillips. However, he will be joined by Lady Gaga — she and Phillips both shared a video teaser on social media confirming her role.

The clip shows silhouetted figures of Joker and Harley Quinn dancing together, their characters are interspersed with the words "Phoenix", "Gaga" and the film's name in bold letters.

In June, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Gaga was in early talks for the film. No other details have been released about other cast members.

What is the plot of 'Joker 2'?

So far, few details are known about the film. However, The Hollywood Reporter also reported sources citing the sequel will be a musical, which would make sense to cast Gaga as the lead opposite Phoenix.

Gaga was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in A Star in Born (2018). However, she won Best Original Song for Shallow, which she co-wrote and performed in the film.

She joins an extensive array of actresses who have played the character, including Margot Robbie, who starred as the "Crime Queen of Gotham City" in the 2020 film Birds of Prey as well as Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021) the following year.

Deadline has reported how production on the Joker sequel will start in December.

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— Reuters contributed to this report