#JOKER just announced its sequel title, Folie à Deux. The title means "the madness of two." So what does the "two" refer to? Is it the sequel? Harley Quinn (as played by Lady Gaga)? Bruce Wayne? Or, is this movie about to adapt the Three Jokers storyline and introduce Willem DaFoe as another version of the Joker?

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Written by Colton Ogburn (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_jYlGRqw02GGUNLkHmi69w)
Hosted by Ryan Arey (http://twitter.com/ryanarey)
Edited by Ethan Lavinsky

Joker: Folie a Deux, a sequel to the 2019 film, Joker, is currently in the works. Director Todd Philip’s and Joaquin Phoenix are both returning and it seems they will be joined by a new co-star. More on that in a bit.

The original Joker film is–without a doubt–one of the best DC movies ever made. Some may say it’s right up there with The Dark Knight and The Batman. The film made over a billion dollars at the box office and received 11 Oscar nominations including Best Picture. So the studio wanting a sequel isn’t a surprise in the slightest.

But the fact that Phillips and Phoenix were also interested in doing a sequel tells me they must have something really special in mind.

The first Joker was dark, brutal, and real. They took the most beloved comic book villain of all time and made a film that’s a social commentary on the dangers of our society abandoning the mentally ill. But they simultaneously delivered a unique origin for the clown prince of crime–or did they?

Todd Phillips has said that Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix's Joker, may not be the real Joker. It’s been theorized that perhaps the “movement” Arthur started inspired the individual who eventually becomes the iconic Batman villain. Keep in mind that we saw the classic alleyway murder of the Wayne’s during the Joker riot that Arthur inspired.

So Arthur Fleck and his Joker movement were directly responsible for the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents. Perhaps the man who pulled the trigger will go on to become THE Joker who terrorizes Gotham City for decades.

That brings us to the title of the sequel, Folie a Deux, which translates to “madness for two.” Like I said before, the first film was a social commentary on society ignoring the reality of mental illness. The sequel's title implies that it will continue this commentary. Folie a Deux is a rare mental disorder also known as Shared Psychotic disorder.

Essentially meaning that the same or at least two very similar mental disorders could affect two individuals simultaneously and play off of one another. The individuals who become intertwined in this situation are typically close in proximity and usually family. Mother-daughter, sister-brother, father-son.

Willem Dafoe has been fancast as the Joker for years. If you wanted to do the most comic accurate Joker in a live action setting, Willem Dafoe would be your guy.

On numerous occasions, Dafoe has spoken about the demands for him to play the Joker. In fact one particular moment is sticking out in my mind after hearing the title Joker: Folie a Deux. Dafoe said in an interview with GQ in January of 2022, quote

“There is something interesting about, like, if there was a Joker imposter. So it would be possible to have not dueling Jokers but someone that [claims] to be the Joker that isn’t the Joker. And that kind of opens up the possibility of an interesting story, particularly if you had Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker, and then you had someone who was either imitating or riffing off what he did.”

Fast forward six months and this statement seems less like a fantasy and more like an idea that was pitched to him when he was offered the part in the movie.

Now I want to be very clear that this has not in any way been confirmed by the filmmakers. We’re merely speculating that Dafoe is involved based on what we think is pretty compelling evidence.

There have been many different iterations of the Joker throughout the years, and Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck is one of the most unique. He’s not evil, he’s not cruel, he doesn’t want to watch the world burn.

He’s just broken. He’s a mentally ill individual who’s been beaten down by a society that refuses to help people in his situation. He feels ignored and looked down upon because he is ignored and looked down upon. These facts don’t excuse his murderous actions, but they do help you understand why and how he’s become this monster.

#FolieàDeux #Joker2 #WillemDafoe