UPDATE: The below claims about a sequel to Joker have been disputed by another source. You can read this article as it originally appeared below.
Joker may not have had his last laugh quite yet.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Todd Phillips is currently talking with Warner Bros. about returning for a sequel to Joker. He and Scott Silver, with whom he worked on the original, are said to be writing the sequel, which will presumably see Joaquin Phoenix returning to star due to options in his contract. Warner Bros. did not comment on the report.
Since releasing earlier this year, Joker has becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time as well as the first movie with that rating to gross $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Since the film only had a budget of around $60 million, Joker has proven immensely profitable for Warner Bros. Although the movie garnered controversy, Joker is generally considered to be a contender for this year's Academy Awards following its win of the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais and Shea Whigham. The film is now in theaters.