Joker was a smash hit at the box office in its first weekend. The film grossed over $US 248 million worldwide, a staggering feat for an R-rated film. Usually, this would automatically mean we would be getting a sequel, especially given the current climate of cinema. However, Joaquin Phoenix, the brilliant actor who played the titular character is one who usually avoids franchises. In fact, Joker is perhaps the first mainstream film since Gladiator that the actor has agreed to star in. However, it looks like Phoenix had such a good time on the set of this Todd Phillips film, we could very well be getting a sequel.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Joaquin Phoenix discusses why he eventually agreed to step into the realm of comic book movies and at one point even mentions the possibility of a Joker sequel.
“It’s nothing that I really wanted to do prior to working on this movie. I don’t know that there is [more to do]. Me and Todd would still be shooting now if we could, right? Because it seemed endless, the possibilities of where we can go with the character.
You know, I wouldn’t have thought about this as my dream role. But now, honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. I talked to Todd a lot about what else we might be able to do, in general, just to work together, but also specifically, if there’s something else we can do with Joker that might be interesting.”
While Phoenix didn’t outright say a sequel is in the works, he certainly seems open to the possibility. Not only that, it also seems like the actor genuinely had a great time playing the comic book character. While I personally am not convinced that the film needs a sequel — it’s a brilliant standalone film — there’s also no denying the part of me that desperately wants to see Phoenix revisit this character.
Joker is currently playing in Malaysian cinemas.
