'Joker' sequel in the works, confirms director Todd Phillips

Joaquin Phoenix is seen reading the script in a photo on Instagram

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'.

Todd Phillips has revealed that a sequel to his 2019 Joker film is in the works.

The director shared a picture of a script to Instagram on Tuesday, as well as another with star of the original, Joaquin Phoenix, reading it.

There is no caption with any further details.

The screenplay is titled Joker: Folie a deux, a French medical term relating to a mental disorder that affects two or more people.

Written by Phillips and Scott Silver, who helped pen Joker, the script is dated May 18, 2022.

The original film 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.

In a review for The National, film critic James Mottram said it was "a brilliant piece of filmmaking, every choice, every cut, seemingly perfect".

"Closer in tone to the bleak Frank ­Miller-penned tales from the 1980s that explored the darker side of DC Comics's Dark Knight, writer-director Todd Phillips has crafted an origin story of Batman's greatest nemesis, the Joker, that ranks as one of the most disturbing and incendiary mainstream movies in years."

As well as Phoenix, who played the title role, the film's cast included Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz.

The film was nominated for 11 Academy awards, winning Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Actor for Phoenix.

He also won Best Actor accolades at the Baftas, the Critic's Choice Awards, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards.

While his portrayal was a huge success, Phoenix previously told The National he had initial reservations about the role. "There was something that felt fresh, exciting and terrifying about it," he said.

"It was quite an experience ­reading through the script. I had so many different feelings about the character, and they kept changing. I wasn't sure where I stood with them. And there was something very unsettling about that."

Additional reporting from PA