Joaquin Phoenix is back in the trailer for Joker: Folie a Deux, but there's one part about the upcoming sequel that fans are struggling to get on board with.
Warner Bros. dropped the trailer for the new Joker movie last night (9 April), three years after we first saw Phoenix put on his clown makeup.
The trailer picks up where the first movie left off as it opens with Pheonix's character in prison, but soon it begins to hint at some new territory.
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We hear a voiceover explaining how we 'use music to make us whole' and to 'balance the fractures within ourselves', before the scene cuts to Phoenix in the spotlight in front of a microphone.
Before long, the trailer turns into an all-singing, all-dancing affair as Pheonix's Arthur Fleck sets about turning life into a musical with the help of Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn.
The pair can be seen dancing in the street and putting on performances in front of crowds, all the while Fleck's life seems to continue its descent into chaos around him.
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The trailer promises a mix of drama, action, violence and emotion, and while it's done its job in getting fans excited, there's one part of the sequel that fans are having a harder time coming to accept.
Sharing their thoughts, one film fan wrote: "They lost me as soon as they announced it would be a musical."
Another shared in the disappointment, writing: "Joker 2 is a musical yall. I’m losing my s**t why would they do that."
One viewer shared their predictions for the success of the movie after learning it would include musical numbers, claiming: "Not my style. Gaga ruined Joker with the influence of musical. It'll do good the first weekend and tank after. Musicals are for a select audience, not the masses. A mitsake [sic], if you will."
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But while not everyone is impressed with the decision to have Arthur Fleck become the star of a musical, there are some who absolutely love the idea.
Countering some of the criticisms, one excited fan commented: "Whoever thought of casting Lady Gaga in a psychological thriller x musical was a f**king genius!
"Joker 2 is literally the movie she was born to star in. Every step in the trajectory of her career has led to this moment."
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Taking to X, another commented: "Honestly, as someone that didn’t really care for the first JOKER, I’m totally onboard with a musical co-starring Lady Gaga. I’m already more interested."
Film fans do have a few months to wait before we can see the full impact of the musical numbers, but hopefully it will manage to win over the critics.
Joker: Folie a Deux is set to be released on 4 October.
Topics: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker, Lady Gaga, Harley Quinn
Emily Brown