The "Clown Prince of Crime" and his muse, Harley Quinn, are set to belt out pop classics in the sequel of Todd Phillips' 2019 "Joker" movie, aptly entitled "Joker: Folie à Deux." That said, exactly how many original tracks would be featured remains obscured.
What We Know So Far on 'Joker: Folie à Deux'
News about "Joker 2" being "mostly a jukebox musical" was first reported by Variety, quoting "insiders" who were involved in the earlier versions of the much-awaited sequel of the film centering on the beloved "Batman" villain.
In addition, the entertainment publication said that there are plans to reinterpret at least 15 "very well-known" tracks. For one, it pointed out "That's Entertainment" as one of the songs, which is taken from the 1953 musical "The Bandwagon" and famously sung by Judy Garland.
There is also a possibility that the film will also feature one or two completely original tracks, however, there's no certainty behind this fact nor are there supporting details in regards to who will pen the songs or who will be singing in the would-be numbers.
The news outlet also suggested that the previous "Joker" film's Oscar-winning composer, Hildur Guðnadóttir, will be injecting her "distinctive, haunting [music] cues" in each possible musical number.
Even though the villain-centric comic book-inspired movie being a musical is the last thing on everyone's "bingo card" for this year, it might very well be a genre-defining addition that'll join the ranks of box office successes like "Mamma Mia!" and "Moulin Rouge!"
So far, the film is described to be a thriller-drama set in and around the famous IP landmark Arkham Asylum. The film will be playing out a screenplay by Scott Silver, which is co-written by director Phillips.
In terms of the cast, joining Phoenix and Gaga are Emmy nominee Zazie Beetz ("Atlanta"), as well as Oscar nominees Catherine Keener ("Being John Malkovich") and Brendan Gleeson ("The Banshees of Inisherin").
Currently, "Joker: Folie à Deux" is slated for a cinema premiere on Oct. 4.
