Is Arthur Still Alive At the End of Joker: Folie à Deux (& How He Could Return for Joker 3)?

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As a fan who has been following the Joker saga since its inception, I must say that Todd Phillips’ latest offering, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” left me with a mix of emotions. The ending, which saw Arthur Fleck meet his untimely demise, was certainly unexpected and left fans questioning the potential for a third installment.

In a surprising twist for some viewers, Todd Phillips’ continuation of the Joker storyline takes an unexpected turn when Arthur Fleck briefly escapes imprisonment only to be recaptured and ultimately face a brutal attack from another inmate. Unfortunately for fans, this encounter results in Arthur’s demise, as depicted in the film “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Viewers witness his passing, and despite medical efforts at Gotham Hospital, it proves unsuccessful, confirming the dark predictions of many Internet memes.

It’s possible some fans are curious about a potential third installment of the Joker series. To clarify, it appears highly unlikely as the director has stated that Joker: Folie à Deux will be his final project in the Joker universe. Based on the audience and critic reviews for the second movie, it doesn’t seem like there was enough box office success to warrant another film from Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios. Although anything can happen, it seems improbable at this time.

Phillips expressed that working in this particular sandbox for two films was enjoyable, but he feels they’ve communicated their intended messages within this universe. However, he’s open to continuing collaborations with Joaquin Phoenix, preferably in a comedy setting, as Phoenix has a knack for being light-hearted and humorous. He believes that audiences are yearning for comedies right now. The teaser for ‘Joker 2‘ encapsulates this sentiment when it says, “What the world needs now is love.” But Phillips would add to that: Not only do we need love, but we could also use a good laugh as well.

DC Black Label’s Swan Song

In the final installment of DC Studios’ brief run of the DC Black Label project, Todd Phillips has parted ways from the initiative. Initially, there were several plans for mature-themed DC Comics movies, with “Joker” serving as the kickoff. Discussions included a Mister Freeze adaptation and possibly another villain to set things in motion. It seems likely that 2020 and the subsequent changes at Warner Bros. Discovery played a significant role in this choice. In an interview with IGN UK back in 2019, Phillips elaborated on his vision for the imprint.

The director clarified that he originally proposed the idea for three films, with the first one being “Joker” featuring him, followed by two more movies directed by other individuals. However, he prefers not to disclose their names because he doesn’t want to create a buzz around the project before discussing it with these directors. He only mentioned this plan to Warner Bros., not them.

Phillips stated, “I still believe it’s a fantastic concept. However, let me be open with you: Their stance – to put it gently – lacked a solid argument. Their point being, there’s no need to invent a unique label for this project, and the effort isn’t worth it. Whenever we feel like making such a movie, we’ll do so, similar to how they made Joker. I understand their viewpoint, but I also found it intriguing if it could become a recurring theme.

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2024-10-05 05:40