Understanding the Musical Elements of Joker 2: Why It’s a Musical

Joker 2, officially titled Joker: Folie à Deux, is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in the United States on Friday, October 4, 2024, after making its festival circuit debut. While the film has garnered polarizing feedback, one distinctive aspect has emerged—this is potentially the first superhero film that embraces a musical format.

Considering the evolution of superhero films over the years, this approach to narrating the tale of one of Gotham City’s most infamous villains is quite unconventional. However, for director Todd Phillips, who shaped a Scorsese-inspired Joker in the original film, transitioning to a musical felt like a natural progression for Joker 2.

In a video conference reported by The Korea Times, Todd Phillips shared that Arthur Fleck embodies a romantic essence that arises from his fantasies. Phillips elaborated:

“In the first movie, one thing (Phoenix and I) spoke about a lot was that even though Arthur is left-footed and out of step with the world, to us, there was a romance in him, and there was music inside of Arthur in the first film. That comes out in the first movie where he’s dancing in the bathroom, or he’s coming down the stairs in the Bronx.”

He further explained how Arthur’s musicality comes to the forefront when he meets Harley Quinn (played by Lady Gaga), revealing the more romantic side of his character.

“It felt like an extension of Arthur”- Todd Phillips discusses the decision to turn Joker 2 into a musical

While the musical label has ignited considerable discussion regarding the upcoming film, Todd Phillips views it as a seamless evolution of Arthur’s journey. He explained that this shift to a musical was not a drastic change in his perspective.

Todd Phillips stated:

“So we thought, if we do another one and if he finally for the first time finds love in his life, maybe that music inside of him comes out. So it didn’t seem like that much of a leap to us to turn this to have musical elements or for it to become a musical. It felt like an extension of Arthur from the first film and the idea that the music was in him.”

It’s evident that many scenes from the original Joker film beautifully intertwined Arthur’s mental decline with music and dance. Additionally, the film concluded with Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,”which may have laid the groundwork for a sequel that wholeheartedly embraces the musical genre.

As the release of Joker 2 approaches, fans await reactions. The film has already received mixed reviews, with some critics praising it while others have been critical, similar to the responses for the first installment.

Regardless, the added musical component is an exciting aspect of Joker 2, offering a unique perspective within the superhero film landscape.

Joker 2 features a talented cast, including Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Jacob Lofland, and Ken Leung, alongside Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix.

Make sure to catch the film at your local theaters starting October 4, 2024.

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