Todd Phillips visited CinemaCon 2024 to promote JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX here’s what he had to say (via EW.COM) about it being a “jukebox musical” and how different it is from the original film:
…I like to say it’s a film where music is an essential element. To me, that doesn’t veer too far from the first film. Arthur [Fleck]’s weird and aloof and all these things, but he has music in him. He has a grace to him. That informed a lot of the dancing in the first film… it didn’t feel like that big of a step here. It’s different, but I think it’ll make sense when you see it.
“I think it’ll make sense when you see it.” Bingo.
I was against a sequel because I believed it would remove the ambiguity/personal interpretation that made JOKER great. You know, how much was real and how much was due to Arthur’s delusions? But after watching this trailer, I believe this sequel will not take anything away from JOKER nor spoil individual takes on the film. Furthermore, I think the musical elements will add to it; and, as Phillips said, it’ll make sense when we see it…or make things even more crazy ambiguous.
For the full report, CLICK HERE or on any of the links provided. – Bill “Jett” Ramey