The highly anticipated sequel, Joker 2, continues the gripping tale of the notorious DC villain, picking up two years after the events of the original film. In this installment, Arthur Fleck discovers a new romantic connection with Harley Quinn. As the buzz grows around the film’s trailers, questions arise regarding its format—will it truly be a musical?
Trailers for Joker 2 feature Joaquin Phoenix performing classics such as “For Once in My Life” and “What the World Needs Now.” With Lady Gaga also teased to showcase her vocal talents, fans are keen to discover if the film embraces a full-blown musical approach. Director Todd Phillips offers some insight, stating, “Most of the music in the movie is really just dialogue. It’s just Arthur not having the words to say what he wants to say, so he sings them instead.”
This sequel may blend elements of traditional musicals like Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera with its own innovative storytelling. The first installment already depicted Arthur Fleck’s gradual descent into madness through powerful musical interludes, leading viewers to wonder whether the upcoming song-and-dance sequences are real, imagined, or delusional.
Despite the musical elements, Todd Phillips emphasizes that the film’s tone diverges from more conventional musicals. He remarks, “I just don’t want people to think that it’s like In the Heights, where the lady in the bodega starts to sing and they take it out onto the street, and the police are dancing.”
What else is there to know about Joker 2’s music?
In a unique approach, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga will perform their songs live, accompanied by an off-camera piano player. Acknowledging their characters are not trained singers, Phoenix noted that perfection in vocal delivery was not the goal: “It was important to me that we never perform the songs as one typically does in a musical. We didn’t want vibrato and perfect notes.”
Fans can anticipate 15 reinterpretations of beloved classic songs, including “That’s Entertainment” from The Band Wagon. Additionally, there may be the inclusion of an original composition in the final cut. Viewers can expect to hear the distinct musical tone from Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, enhancing the film’s atmospheric experience. Regardless of whether Joker 2 is classified as a musical, it promises to be a cinematic event worth watching when it hits theaters on October 4th.
