The 2024 movie schedule has been filled with sequels and follow-ups, and among one that’s set to hit theaters in just a few months is the much-discussed Joker: Folie à Deux . A psychological thriller with musical elements, the film continues the story that began in 2019’s Joker . Todd Phillips is back in the director’s chair for the upcoming DC movie and also co-wrote the script again.
With the film’s release date getting closer, Phillips is now providing additional details regarding what fans can expect from the flick and most recently explained why he doesn’t view the film as a sequel. Some may be surprised that the War Dogs director holds that viewpoint, especially considering that – as the Joker: Folie à Deux trailer shows – the new movie picks up almost directly after the first. However, it sounds like the director’s reasoning for his perspective goes beyond the narrative.
He spoke about his latest cinematic endeavor with Empire Magazine , with whom he shed some light on the production. When explaining why he doesn’t see this flick as a sequel, he used The Hangover to illustrate his point: I don’t think of it as a sequel. Hangover 2 was a sequel.
So often a sequel is more of the same, just bigger. Of course [Folie À Deux] is a sequel, but it felt like we were making something entirely different. It’s tonally and inherently something way more different.
The first one subverted the expectations of what it was. So how do you do that again? So Tod.