Five years after its predecessor became a cultural phenomenon, "Joker: Folie à Deux," the R-rated sequel from DC Comics, has returned to the big screen with a polarizing reception. Despite the hype, the film has opened to a modest $81.1 million overseas. For director Todd Phillips, this outcome may be more than just a matter of mixed reviews, as a new report from foreign media suggests he may have been actively trying to sever ties with DC Studios.
Todd Phillips Keeping His Distance from DC?
According to a report from Variety, an insider familiar with the situation revealed that during the making of the film, Phillips wanted "nothing to do with DC" and did everything he could to bypass the studio's official oversight. Although DC Studios CEO James Gunn had publicly expressed support for "Joker: Folie à Deux" on social media, Phillips reportedly remained adamant about keeping the studio at arm's length.
As a result, the DC Studios logo is notably absent from the beginning of "Joker: Folie à Deux," a move that media outlets interpret as a clear expression of Phillips' resistance or dissatisfaction with DC.
Reflecting on the original "Joker"'s success versus the sequel's stumble five years later, an insider shared their perspective with Variety. "If the first movie was just about a man at the end of his rope in a decaying city who goes insane, it probably would have made $150 million worldwide, not $1 billion," the source stated, arguing that the film's massive success was primarily due to the character being DC Comics' "Joker."
A Rift with DC Studios?
Perhaps as a result of Phillips' efforts to "draw a line," DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran were conspicuously absent from the "Joker: Folie à Deux" premiere after-party. While Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was in attendance and seen interacting warmly with stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the absence of the two DC leaders has fueled speculation about a potential rift or distance between the parties, according to Variety.
In response to inquiries about Gunn's absence, a DC spokesperson explained that he was forced to oversee reshoots in Atlanta due to the impact of Hurricane Helene. Safran, meanwhile, was reportedly unable to attend due to illness.
Gunn and Safran had been leading DC Studios for two months when "Folie à Deux" began filming. At the time, many assumed the new leadership would offer guidance on the high-budget, R-rated musical. However, Variety reports that Phillips was only willing to communicate with Warner Bros. film executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
Phillips Ignoring Warner's Input?
Even so, advice from Warner Bros. was sometimes disregarded. The report notes that David Zaslav had a one-on-one meeting with Phillips in April 2022, offering to let the director continue shooting in Los Angeles if he could agree to a lower budget. Warner Bros. reportedly preferred filming in London to cut costs by approximately 20%. However, Phillips ultimately shot the film in Los Angeles without reducing the budget.
Furthermore, an insider revealed that Warner Bros. was initially against having "Joker: Folie à Deux" premiere at the Venice Film Festival, unlike its predecessor. Phillips reportedly ignored this advice, insisted on the Venice debut, and also refused to hold test screenings. A Warner Bros. spokesperson later stated that the company "fully supported the decision to premiere the film in Venice."
What Was 'Folie à Deux' Missing?
Variety also suggests that another factor in the sequel's perceived underperformance could be the absence of Bradley Cooper, who served as a producer on the 2019 film. Beyond "Joker," Cooper also directed and co-wrote "A Star Is Born," his acclaimed collaboration with Lady Gaga, and his commercial instincts could have been beneficial.
However, Cooper and Phillips reportedly parted ways professionally in 2021, which explains his absence from the "Folie à Deux" production. An anonymous source involved with the film stated, "Nobody could talk to Todd. That's just how it is. If you're not willing to listen to the fans, you're destined to fail."
via： Variety