Last year, Joaquin Phoenix played coy when asked about rumors of a Joker sequel. Back then, the decorated actor did not confirm nor deny that a Joker 2 is in the works. However, this hasn’t stopped reports of Joker 2 doing the rounds. In particular, a recent rumor from Heroic Hollywood confirms that Todd Phillips will return to write and direct a sequel featuring Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, better known as the Joker. According to the same source, the sequel will begin filming in 2023 albeit it declined to reveal more about the plot and other important details such as returning as well as new characters. Over the past few years, fans, insiders, and leakers alike each have offered their takes on a potential Joker sequel. The prevailing theory these days is that Joker and Matt Reeves’ The Batman are both set in the same cinematic universe. Meanwhile, others think that The Batman is a spiritual sequel to Joker, as both films are taking a character-driven approach to the titular characters. Of course, this are all speculation based on unconfirmed information. Ultimately, a Joker sequel wouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Financially, it makes sense. The 2019 hit movie made over $1 billion at the global box office with a meager $70 million budget. As the first R-rated film to make that much money, Warner Bros would be making a huge mistake not to explore the possibility of doing a second film. Of course, with heightened expectations, Joker 2 could very well flop and damage the legacy of the first movie, so doing it carries a certain amount of risk. For now, fans can look forward to the DCEU and other DC Comics films that are slated to launch later this year. The closest one is Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which will premiere on March 4. Word has it that The Batman has a nearly 3-hour runtime with a story that won’t delve too much on the Caped Crusader’s origin story, but will instead focus more on his early years as a crime-fighting vigilante over at Gotham City.
