Having surprised everyone by becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all-time, the second top-earning DC Comics adaptation there’s ever been, and an awards season juggernaut, the pressure is on for Joker: Folie à Deux to deliver.
It was surprising enough that a sequel even materialized given Joaquin Phoenix’s noted distaste of having any interest in reprising a role, but a over a billion dollars in ticket sales and a fat paycheck will be able to change almost anyone’s mind. This time around, the follow-up is taking the all-singing and all-dancing route with Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn along for the ride, with cinematographer Lawrence Sher revealing some highly unlikely inspirations.
In an interview with YouTuber Matti Haapoja, the DP named Francis Ford Coppola’s One from the Heart as a major influence on Joker 2, which makes sense considering its a lush and vibrant romantic fantasy with musical undertones. However, it was also a catastrophic critical and commercial flop that was widely-panned by almost everybody, and lost an absolute fortune after recouping $637,000 of its $26 million budget from domestic theaters.
That’s not to say that Folie à Deux will suffer an identical fate, but it’s an ominous sign nonetheless. The toxic bros might be put off by the musical and romantic elements, while the first film didn’t exactly escape controversy, either. Make no mistake; it’s going to make a ton of money regardless of how it turns out, but openly comparing itself to an all-timer of a flop is a tragedy waiting to happen if ever there was one.
