Joaquin Phoenix Really Wants a JOKER Sequel and Even Made Sequel Posters Showing The Joker in Classic Films

When Joker was announced, the plan from the very beginning was for it to be a single “one-off” film. It was only supposed to tell this one story. But, now that the film is a major box office success, the studio might end up pushing for a sequel.

Turns out, Joaquin Phoenix had wanted to start developing a sequel while they were shooting the first film. He was really trying to get director Todd Phillips on board. During an interview with LA Times, Phoenix explained:

“Long before the release or before we had any idea if it would be successful, we talked about sequels. In the second or third week of shooting, I was like, ‘Todd, can you start working on a sequel? There’s way too much to explore.’ It was kind of in jest — but not really.”

The actor then went on to reveal that he teamed up with the on-set photographer of Joker to shoot him in character so they could create fake sequel posters to help convince Phillips that Joker could conceivably be inserted into several different types of films.

As you know, the first Joker film was heavily inspired by the films of Martin Scorsese like Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Phoenix had some crazier, more off-the-wall ideas for the sequel, though. He explains he photoshopped Joker into ten classic films that include Rosemary’s Baby, Raging Bull, and Yentl. He said:

“I basically said, ‘You could take this character and put him in any movie."‘ So I did a photo shoot with the on-set photographer and we made posters where I photoshopped Joker into 10 classic movies: ‘Rosemary’s Baby,’ ‘Raging Bull,’ ‘Yentl.’ If you see it, you’re like, ‘Yeah, I’d watch that movie.’ ‘Yentl’ with Joker? That would be amazing!”

Seeing the Joker in any of those types of films would certainly be… interesting. Yentl!? Imagine the 1983 Barbra Streisand film about a woman who dresses up like a man so she can be educated in the Jewish faith, with the Joker… that would certainly be something! Then seeing a Joker horror movie inspired by Rosemary’s Baby ? I’d watch that! I’d love to know what other films Phoenix made fake posters for!

He went on to talk about how they would approach a sequel if it does happen, saying:

“We’ve only talked about the fact that if we ever did one — and I’m not saying we are because right now we’re not — it couldn’t just be this wild and crazy movie about the ‘Clown Prince of Crime.’ That just doesn’t interest us. It would have to have some thematic resonance in a similar way that this does.”

What would you like to see in a Joker sequel? Do you think that a Joker sequel will actually happen?