The superhero genre continues to dominate the entertainment industry, but some franchises stand out for not being part of a full cinematic universe. Todd Phillips budding Joker franchise is in that category, and the sequel is one of the most anticipated upcoming DC movies on the way to the cinema. A new trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux has dropped, and it reveals some of Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix’s musical numbers.
What we know about Joker: Folie à Deux is quite limited, but fans are eager to see what happens next end of Joker. Lady Gaga will play Harley Quinn in the upcoming film, which will break new ground by including musical numbers. And this new trailer offered a deeper look at what Phillips has in store for the follow-up film.
Lady Gaga’s casting as Harley Quinn is a big reason why the hype surrounding this new movie is so high. The original Joker (which streams with a Max subscription) was an exhausting watch, but one that gave Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for his performance as Arthur Fleck. This time, he might have a partner in crime… if the franchise’s unreliable narrator is to be believed.
This new Joker 2 trailer reveals that the film will focus on Arthur Fleck’s trial for his crimes in the first film. There’s still plenty of support in Gotham City for The Joker, including from Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel. She is clearly in love with this version of the Clown Prince of Crime, which inspires her to commit crimes herself, including robbery. They end up meeting in Arkham Asylum, where her fascination with Arthur becomes a shared romantic connection.
It has been teased with it Joker: Folie à Deux will be a musicaland we were treated to some brief singing moments in this new trailer. The first one comes about a minute in, where Joaquin PhoenixThe title character sings Stevie Wonder’s “For Once In My Life”, presumably about Harleen. The next comes towards the end, where Arthur and Harleen sing Judy Garland’s “Get Happy” with each other. It’s definitely an appropriate choice given the Joker’s penchant for laughs, as well as the framing of his trial, as they “get ready for doomsday.”
This is probably just the tip of the musical iceberg, as it looks like there will be plenty of songs throughout Joker 2s running time. We see Gaga and Phoenix dancing in a variety of places, including those notorious Joker staircase. I have to wonder how many songs will be included in the film, and if that makes it less disturbing to watch than its predecessor. Either way, it sure looks like the sequel is going to be a wild ride.
All will be revealed when Joker: Folie à Deux has a theatrical release on October 4. For now, check 2025 movie release date.
