Brendan Gleeson has reportedly joined the cast of Joker: Folie à Deux, the planned sequel directed by Todd Phillips. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga play the Joker and Harley Quinn, respectively, in the movie. The announcement of Gleeson’s involvement follows that of Zazie Beetz’s return to the picture in the same role a few weeks ago. Fans have been wondering where Phillips will take his original take on the characters in the sequel, but one thing is certain: there will be music. Who exactly Gleeson will portray in the movie remains a mystery at this time. People of Irish descent have starred in several critically acclaimed films, including those directed by Ridley Scott, M. Night Shyamalan, and Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York). He became increasingly well-known all around the world because of his role as Alastor Moody in the Harry Potter film series.
In 2022, Gleeson appeared in a film opposite another actor from the Batman franchise, Irish actor Colin Farrell, in the comedy/drama The Banshees of Inisherin. After the success of the first film, which is the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time and was well praised by critics across the world, director Todd Phillips is back in the director’s chair for Joker: Folie à Deux. It also broke the mould for movies based on comic books by receiving 11 Oscar nominations. With his Oscar, Phoenix became just the second actor to receive an Academy Award for playing the most infamous Batman villain.
In 2009, Heath Ledger won an Oscar for his performance as this identical character. This time around, it’s clear that Warner Bros. hopes to cash in with Joker: Folie à Deux. Gaga has become a staple of awards seasons ever since she began taking on hard parts in films, so it seems sensible that she would be placed with Bradley Cooper in a bid for Oscar glory. As with Phoenix’s work a few years ago, the singer will have to take a well-adored character (most recently portrayed by Margot Robbie) and make her sanity believable for the sake of the new film. Warner Bros. has not yet revealed any details about the story of Joker: Folie à Deux.
The film is presently targeting a Fall 2024 release date, so we may have to wait a bit before we see any kind of teaser footage. There is, however, one certainty: the next blockbuster’s cast guarantees that it will be fantastic. The most likely release date for Joker: Folie à Deux is October 4, 2024.