MovieChat Forums > Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) Discussion > how would you have done Joker 2 to ensur...

how would you have done Joker 2 to ensure another billion hit?

posted a month ago by bozo_500 (13104)
23 replies | jump to latest

All they had to do was something along lines of the 1st film .. an 'Unbreakable' style deconstruction of the Joker mythos, and something that would excite audiences and pay off some expectations from 1st film..

I can probably come up with a premise just off top of head on which to blow *gasp* 200m! that would have a decent chance at being a billion hit and keep everyone happy (audiences, shareholders, studio bosses, even some critics)

-Start off with opening trial with Harvey Dent etc, Arthur sent to Arkham for life.

-Flash forward 15y to late 1990s we see Arthur (who is now like 50 bc hes prob only supposed to be 35 in J1) escapes in some big mass jail break like in Batman Begins - (we briefly see likes of Penguin, TwoFace, Riddler, etc), by now 'joker' has totally taken over Arthur so he's like the traditional Joker (the proper genuine one). There's the romance with HQ (GaGa) but no musicals beyond like one fantasy set piece.

-then it becomes something of a crime thriller for bulk of movie, jokers ascent to crimelord abit like 'The Dark Knight' but from Jokers POV ultimately terrorising Gotham - 'year one' Batman would be in shadows, vague urban myth, not really seen until the confrontation finale, where 'Arthur' would come back briefly when he realises its Bruce. Batman would be an unknown guy in fact maybe never even see his face, and would be a very closely guarded spoiler not revealed in any trailers, publicity etc to keep it a surprise.

-ends with something like last shot of TDK but with Joker and HQ in the Jokermobile (like that scene in Suicide Squad)

Therefore couldve been like a mirror to the Nolan trilogy. J1 would be (retroactively) like 'Joker Begins', J2 'The Dark Joker', (and a potential J3 could be 'Joker Rises') as well as continuing with the Scorsese vibe (Goodfellas/Casino, Gangs of NY/Departed)

[–] jekporkins (1970) a month ago

Seems to me if the Joker 1 movie was about Joker's origin and beginnings, the sequel should be about how he became the Clown Prince of Crime. Show him working his way into Gotham's seedy underbelly and terrorizing criminals and civilians alike.

I don't think that was the intent of Phillips' first movie though. Seems like he wanted to make Joker into Travis Bickle Jr. and leave it at that.

[–] Bateman (600) a month ago

I'd probably do a loose adaptation of Bruce Timm's and Paul Dini's Mad Love, just as the first was clearly inspired by Alan Moore's and Brian Bolland's The Killing Joke.

Essentially, Harley as Arthur/Joker's Arkham-appointed therapist, well meaning but woefully unprepared, finding herself seeing things his way more and more as nothing goes right in her personal life, until she became Harley Quinn and broke him out, and they rode off into the sunset in a sort of twisted codependent "happy ending".

It'd probably turn into more of a Harley Quinn movie than a Joker one, I suppose, but then I really don't think there's much more that could be done with the character without bringing Batman into it.

[–] jk90us (7138) a month ago

I wouldn’t have made Joker 2.

The first one was a fluke.

The studio grabbed some script about some bullied loser who can’t deal with life and starts shooting people, then they call it Joker, sprinkle in a few names from the Batman universe, and duped Batman fans into thinking it was part of the Batman universe.

Nothing they could have done with J2 would have prevented it from bombing.

[–] TheEndIsNigh (264) a month ago

Agree with all that except you left out throwing a load of Taxi Driver and King Of Comedy elements into it.

[–] jk90us (7138) a month ago

Thank you.

Good point.

[–] jasonbayly13181 (184) a month ago

Agree with this. At no point did I ever think I was watching a movie about the Joker, but more just a movie about a guy who paints his face and started going crazy. And then they called it "The Joker."

[–] fc31 (5364) a month ago

I think people were relating to Christopher Nolan's batman trilogy, thinking it was going with the same, more realistic approach to comic book characters.

But of course we now know it was more of a joke.

The joke on us. Of course on movie studios as well.

[–] fc31 (5364) a month ago

First of all, it should not be a musical.

Secondly, write it as about the joker, develop on the first one. I think it would have worked. Not telling audience they watched 2 movies, and none of them is about the joker, even the titles of both movies are "Joker". That is basically saying:"You really thought these movies are about the joker, you basically paid money to be laughed at, see how well I screwed you".

Just do these 2 things, I think it would be at least an OK movie.

[–] DarthAckbar (2039) a month ago

i liked what they did

but him escaping and leading a revolution would probably appeal to the masses more

[–] ehewitt (45) a month ago

@DarthAckbar

Except, that plot would be one huge plot hole because at no time in the first movie did it imply Arthur could or would be someone who could lead a revolution.
Also, once he'd escape, he'd be chased by the police and other law enforcement agencies. There'd be no possibility for Arthur to even start a revolution, let alone lead one.
Finally, it would be a tonal shift from the 1st film, where it would become a chase movie. But the 1st film showed Arthur wouldn't be the type of person to escape Gotham, or last long if he was on the run.
He also didn't act as if he wanted to escape, based on the conversation he had with the psychiatrist at the end of the 1st movie.

[–] DarthAckbar (2039) a month ago

meh, i dont agree

he "led" the first riot ( by inspiring it in the first place )

all you would need to add is more riots in more cities

and i admit that maybe revolution isn't exactly the best word for that scenario

but it is certainly very plausible based on the first film's ending

[–] TandyMan (11096) a month ago

I wouldn't have made Joker 2. Would have attempted the same idea with a different villain. If that was a hit, farm right through the roster. But keep the loose continuity of world building from each film to the next.

As for what could have saved this, somebody online lobbed out the idea of doing it like Natural Born Killers. That would have certainly made some money and you still coulda left in a musical number or two.

[–] fc31 (5364) a month ago

You will never be hired by movie studios.

They want reliable cash grabs.

[–] Ratman (138) a month ago

Not bothered making it and concentrated on another film giving another Batman character the limelight.

[–] Porsche911 (3598) a month ago

I think more dancing and singing would help push this way past $1B BO!