Joker: Folie à Deux holds a very special place in the DC Universe's future on screen.
According to Variety, Joker: Folie à Deux is the only DC-related film currently greenlit following the completion of the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery earlier this year. This news comes amid reports Warner Bros. Discovery is preparing for massive layoffs.
What's the Future of the DC Universe?
Earlier this month, Warner Bros. officially canceled its Batgirl film, reportedly due in part to negative test screenings. The unprecedented move earned backlash from fans, as the movie was already in the late stages of production and cost approximately $90 million. There are additional reports that the decision was made in order to get a tax write-down on Batgirl. However, in its official statement on the cancellation, Warner Bros. said the choice reflected a shift in how leadership is approaching both the DC Universe and HBO Max and is not at all indicative of the quality of the film.
As for the future of the DC Universe, WBD CEO David Zaslav has said that the company is creating a 10-year plan, similar to what was done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As such, they're attempting to focus on making good quality films based on DC's superhero characters. Additionally, many films in production prior or during the merger, including Blue Beetle, are seemingly safe from cancellation at this time.
The DC Extended Universe began in 2013 with Man of Steel. While some movies in the DCEU have proven a success for Warner Bros., the endeavor has undergone a fair amount of restructuring since its early days. Currently, there's no indication Warner Bros. plans to scrap its upcoming DC films, which include Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. That being said, Warner Bros. is said to be considering whether to shelve the upcoming The Flash film due to the legal troubles of star Ezra Miller.
Joker: Folie à Deux is scheduled for release on Oct. 4, 2024, with filming set to begin in December. Details about the film are scare at this time. However, Joaquin Phoenix will reprise his role as Arthur Fleck, with Lady Gaga joining him as Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn. Zazie Beetz is also in talks to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond.
Source: Variety