Todd Phillips clarifies Joker sequel reports

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Yesterday Joblo reported the news that a sequel to this year's smash hit JOKER was in the works with director Todd Phillips and actor Joaquin Phoenix set to return. What followed was a mad cap debunking fest from numerous outlets worthy of the Clown Prince of Crime himself. Multiple inside sources came forward to state that the report was nothing more than pure clickbait and that a JOKER sequel was not in development.

One of the more salacious bits of news in the original story from THR was that Todd Phillips had a meeting with Warner Bros. chairman Toby Emmerich immediately after JOKER's stellar opening weekend. Supposedly, Phillips asked for the rights to numerous other DC properties to create one-shots in the vein of JOKER.  Emmerich balked but Phillips reportedly walked away with the rights to a JOKER sequel. Subsequent reports declared the meeting a complete fabrication.

Amid this hellacious bevy of reports and counter-reports, the one person who was noticeably silent was the director himself, Todd Phillips. That was, of course, until now. In an effort to set the record straight Todd Phillips has finally come forward to address yesterday's reports. Regarding the meeting between himself and Emmerich, Phillips confirmed it never took place:

“I can honestly say to you there was no meeting that ever happened on October 7 where I marched in,” Phillips said. “First of all, if you know me and my career, that’s not my style. I made a huge comedy at Warner Bros., ‘The Hangover,’ and I didn’t suddenly become a comedy factory producer, like, oh, let’s just churn out movies. Bradley [Cooper] and I have a production company at Warners. I’ve been at Warners for 15, 16 years. We have two things in development at all times, not 40 things like some people. I’m not the kind of guy who goes marching in saying I want these 40 titles. I just don’t have the energy.”

Phillips however did state that he pitched Warner Bros. a "Black Label" series of films that would have centered on darker, character-focused comicbook stories but WB shot the idea down. As to the possibility of a JOKER sequel, Phillips acknowledged that a $1 billion box office return does prompt conversations but reiterated some of his early comments on the topic:

“Well, a movie doesn’t make a billion dollars and they don’t talk about a sequel,” Phillips said. “Joaquin and I have publicly said we’ve been talking about a sequel since week two of shooting because it’s a fun thing to talk about. But the [THR] article was referring to other things than that that were just frankly untrue. I don’t know how it gets started, if it’s some assistant trying to gain street cred with a writer.”

Well there you have it.

So a couple thoughts on this. First off, the fact that Phillips proposed a Black Label series to WB is, to quote SHAWN OF THE DEAD, "a slice of fried gold." That WB passed on the idea feels like a missed opportunity, although with JOKER's success, perhaps the studio will revisit the idea. Now as to a JOKER sequel, I still think the likelihood of it happening is extremely high. As Phillips intimated, you don't make over a $1 billion at the box office and not at least entertain the idea. Moreover, it sounds like Phoenix and Phillips already have some thoughts in mind so at the very least the seed of a possible story is in place. Let's hope that seed grows into a mighty Redwood.

So what do you guys think? Would you have been on board for a Black Label series of DC films? Do you still think a JOKER sequel will happen? Sound off in the comments below!