Joker: Folie a Deuxhas drastically underperformed compared to the first movie, and it’s starting to make the ‘new and improved’DCUlook bad, even though it has almost no connection. When Todd Phillips Joker released in 2019, it quickly shattered box office records as the billion dollar hit film became the highest earning R-rated movie of all time. The spectacular story, the unique approach to a superhero movie, and the stunning acting by the leading man, Joaquin Phoenix, all came together to create an outstanding solo film that captivated audiences everywhere.
However, despite the original movie being made and released as a standalone film, the studios saw the potential to expand, and so,Joker: Folie à Deuxwas put into production, despite concerns. Evidently, there was a five-year gap until the sequel eventually released, and in that time, there weremajor changes at Warner Bros. and within the DCEU. Namely, James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired as co-CEOs to take over the DC branch of entertainment media, including movies, TV, and video games. In the overhaul, many former DC projects were canceled, actors were dropped from notable roles, and the DCEU was set to reboot as the DCU.
Joker 2’s Failure Is Nothing To Do With James Gunn’s New DC Team
Joker: Folie à Deux Is More DCEU Than DCU Elseworlds
However, while some titles survived the changeover, that doesn’t mean Gunn and the new DCU team had much to do with them. WhileGunn now had a major hand in the future of the DCU, projects likeJoker: Folie à Deuxwere simply already in development and too popular for the studio to put down. Phillips stayed on as director, and he ultimately had the final say in what he wanted to do withJoker 2.
Why would a movie like Joker: Folie à Deux reject a test screening?
I can understand to some degree that because Joker was such a success, the production felt confident about Joker: Folie à Deux. However, no two pieces of art are the same, and even the greats have bad days. Not every title of Spielberg’s was legendary, for example. The thing that baffles me the most about Joker: Folie à Deux failing to do a test screening, however, is that Warner Bros. knew that it was a musical, yet they didn’t stop and think that this change in format wouldn’t need to be handled with more care.
Gunn stated onThreadsthat he was able to seeJoker: Folie à Deuxbefore it was released, and he offered notes about the project, but Phillips was able to adhere to or ignore these suggestions as he pleased. Since the project was already in “full swing,” there waslittle that Gunn could have done to step in and change things. Potentially, with the level of their new position, they could have made more waves and pushed their opinions, but it appears that Gunn had enough respect and consideration for the other creatives to not step on their toes.
Todd had Joker in full swing by the time we came onboard - I’ve watched and given notes, but it is mostly with WB, where it started. Everything forward in live-action we’re involved with.
- James Gunn onThreads
With all of this in mind, it’s clear that Gunn and the new team were not involved in the process of makingJoker: Folie à Deuxin any meaningful way. While this clearly allowed Phillips some freedom, it also resulted in amovie that appears to have been made with minimal oversight, and alack of audience test screening beforeJoker 2’srelease. And while that may be helpful for the creativity and vision of the director, it has resulted in a product that was incredibly underwhelming.
Why Joker 2’s Failure Is Still Reflecting On Gunn & The DCU
DC’s Reputation Is In Ruins After Years Of Empty Promises
Despite the distance between Gunn, the DCU, andJoker: Folie à Deux, the movie’s sub-par performance is still impacting the rebooted universe. The fact remains that audiences are struggling to engage with anything from the larger DC shared universe. From 2013 until 2023, theDCEU was a series of misstepsthat received lackluster reviews, and raised more questions than answers.
While some projects appeared to hit their stride and deliver the promise of a brighter future, many were scrapped in favor of more obscure projects.Wonder Womanwas a hit, but the sequel failed to generate any enthusiasm.Aquamanwas a similar success, but it took five years and many delays for the sequel to eventually come out. And when The Rock led an almighty marketing campaign to get the DCEU back on track, and even pulled Henry Cavill back after years of not appearing on-screen, theannouncements and decisions were quickly reversedin favor of a new direction.
I’m Convinced The Hate For Joker 2 Is Exactly What The Movie Wanted
Joker: Folie à Deux has become a major failure for DC, but I’m convinced that the movie got the audience reaction that it wanted, though it backfired.
Joker 2may not have been James Gunn’s project, and he may have had little to do with any decisions for the film, but the trust has long been shattered for fans who expected and hoped for more from DC. There’s no denying that these characters are some of the best and most imaginative in the world, as for decades, they have been household names. They successfully starred in numerous films andTV shows before the DCEU, but nowGunn and his team need to work hard to gain trust backafter the damage of the DCEU, and its aftermath.
Joker 2’s Failure Proves DC Cannot Afford Any More Missteps
Things Need To Improve For The DCU And Quickly
IfJoker: Folie à Deuxhas done anything for the DCU, it has made it loud and clear that they cannot afford to make another mistake. Official DCU TV shows will begin to be released at the end of 2024, but thereal test will be whenSupermancomes out in 2025. If these projects fail to get the audience excited and generate a profit, the studio will stop putting money into the brand, and that could spell disaster for the DCU.
Before ever putting out their first official release, the DCU is at a disadvantage, with many casual filmgoers having abandoned all hope for future projects. Despite beloved heroes being featured prominently, such as Superman, who will launch the new era, and Batman, who will appear in the upcomingBatman: The Brave and the Bold, thetrust has been exhausted. If Gunn doesn’t get people into theaters with trailers that effectively sell the movies, and then deliver on the promise, it doesn’t matter that he wasn’t responsible for all the movies that came before.
It’s possible that the poorly receivedJoker: Folie à Deuxwas the last straw for some fans who felt enthusiastic about DC-related movies. However, as proven by theJoker 2box office results, many people have already decided to forgo the experience, expecting that it would only be a disappointment, and so the drop-off between the first and second movie has been monumental. With this frosty reception for a DC project that initially generated as much excitement asJokerdid in 2019, the outlook doesn’t look great for Gunn’s impendingDCU.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Cast
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips’ critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
