Call in the jokers. The announcement that Todd Phillips’ 2019 film Joker would be receiving a sequel stunned the globe in early June, especially when it was revealed that the sequel will be a musical starring Lady Gaga as fan-favourite character Harley Quinn. Lawrence Sher, the cinematographer for both the original and the sequel, has stated that production will begin on the picture within the next five to six weeks, making this the most recent piece of news on the production. The Hollywood Reporter’s “Behind the Screen” podcast recently featured Sher, who was also the director of photography on the recently released DC blockbuster Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson.
Sher spoke and discussed his next project, the widely anticipated Joker follow-up, in the podcast discussion, which focused mostly on the recently released film and the post-credit sequence. Sher said in the interview that filming will begin in “five or six weeks’ time” and would take place primarily in Los Angeles sound stages with some outside shots in New York. This would mean that principal photography on the picture would begin in late November or early December. He also discussed Lady Gaga’s part in the film. Sher thinks she’ll be perfect for the film and that she’ll add some of the same enchantment that Joaquin did on his own.
There will be magic to be found every day on-site because the two together will be precisely what we wish for. Perhaps there will also be some insanity to add to the mix. Having a little bit of turmoil is something we enjoy. Although most of the plot has been kept under wraps, we do know that the musical sequel will centre on the connection between Phoenix’s Joker and Gaga’s Harley Quinn and that the film will open off with Joker in Arkham Asylum following the riot he sparked at the conclusion of the last film. Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Harry Lawtey have all been confirmed to return for the Clown Prince and Princess of Crime, while Zazie Beetz is in negotiations to reprise her role as Sophie from the first film.
With a story he co-wrote with Scott Silver, Phillips will be back in the director’s chair for the sequel. With worldwide revenue of $1.074 billion, the first film in the franchise easily holds the record for the highest-grossing R-rated picture of all time. The film received eleven nominations at the 2020 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and went on to win multiple awards and became the frontrunner in both categories. Oscar winners include Hildur Gunadóttir for Best Original Score and Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor for his role as the film’s namesake. Production on Joker: Folie à Deux is set to kick up in December, and the picture is slated for a wide release on October 4, 2024. The Joker may be seen now on HBO Max.