Joker: Folie À Deux director Todd Phillips 'wanted nothing to do with DC' during making of the $200million flop film, a new report has claimed.


The hotly-anticipated sequel to the 2019 billion dollar Oscar-winning film - stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga and was considered a surefire hit for Warner Bros Pictures - but was slammed by critics and failed to ignite at the box office.

The sequel has been roundly criticized for being a musical and 'ignoring' the DC fanbase - with an agent familiar with Phillips' process telling Variety he 'wanted nothing to do with DC' during the making of the film, with DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran notably absent from the film's LA premiere afterparty last month.


A source said: 'If the first movie was about some down-on-his-luck, mentally ill guy in a downtrodden city, it makes maybe $150 [million] worldwide. Not a billion. People showed up because that guy was Joker.'

In an apparent snub by Phillips, the opening sequence of the film does not include a DC Studios logo.




On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently holds an audience score of 31% and a critic score of 32%





The hotly-anticipated sequel to the 2019 billion dollar Oscar-winning film - stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga - seen with Phillips last month - and was considered a surefire hit for Warners Bros Pictures - but was slammed by critics and failed to ignite at the box office 

A DC spokesman said Gunn was directing the Max series Peacemaker in Atlanta, which had lost a day of production due to Hurricane Helene, while Safran was sick. 



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Joker: Folie À Deux is branded 'bleak' and the 'most disappointing follow-up' by critics


A Warner spokesman added that a DC logo appears at the end of the Joker sequel. while Phillips declined to comment to the publication. 

Several frictions are said to have developed between Phillips, DC and Warner- with claims that Michael DeLuca, Chairperson of Warner Bros. Entertainment, and CEO Pamela Abdy seemed 'unwilling' to say no to Phillips due to his huge past successes.

It is claimed Phillips would 'only' speak with DeLuca and Abdy rather than Gunn and Safran - who took control of DC two months before production began on Joker 2 in December 2022.

Gunn and Safran did attend the first director's cut screening for the studio but Phillips fueled rift speculation when he told a reporter: 'With all due respect to them, this is kind of a Warner Bros. movie.'

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav also met with Phillips  shortly after WarnerMedia and Discovery merged in April 2022 and was 'open to filming in Los Angeles if the director would make the sequel at a lower price point.'

The studio wanted to film in London which would have cost around 20 per cent less.

However, Phillips insisted on filming in LA with the budget remaining static. 









The sequel has been roundly criticized for being a musical and 'ignoring' the DC fanbase - with an agent familiar with Phillips' process telling Variety he 'wanted nothing to do with DC' during the making of the film, with DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran notably absent from the film's LA premiere afterparty last month

 A Warner spokesman told the publication the studio 'supported the decision to film in Los Angeles'.

A source directly involved with the film said: 'No one could get through to Todd. And the one thing about genre stuff: If you don't listen and pay attention to what the fan expectations are, you're going to fail.

Insiders also claim studio bosses did not want to premiere the film at the Venice Film Festival, but Phillips pushed back - with a Warner spokesman saying the studio 'fully supported the decision to bring the film to Venice.

Joker: Folie À Deux has garnered the lowest CinemaScore in comic book movie history as the film bombed at the box office on opening night. 

It has only made $114million worldwide against its $200million budget. 

The psychological musical thriller — which has been criticized as 'bleak' and 'disappointing' — officially released in theaters on Friday, October 4, but it only raked in $20 million at the domestic box office, per The Hollywood Reporter. 

Phoenix reprised his role as the Joker in the sequel, which had earned him an Oscar for his portrayal in the 2019 film, while Gaga took on the role of Harleen Lee Quinzel (Harley Quinn). 

However, Joker: Folie À Deux has been given a D rating on CinemaScore — the lowest score for a comic book movie. 

Madame Web — which notably also flopped in theaters earlier this year and also received terrible reviews — holds a higher score with a C+.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently holds an audience score of 31% and a critic score of 32%. 

The sequel is projected to rake in less that $50 million at the domestic box office during the entirety of opening weekend, per The Hollywood Reporter. 

Weeks ago, the movie had been projected to bring in around $70 million - but the number has since drastically dropped. 

Joker (2019) notably opened with $96.2 million when the film first released in theaters - and eventually landed a little over $1 billion in the global box office. 

The first movie - which was also directed by Todd Phillips - had a budget of between $55 and $70 million. However, the budget increased for Folie À Deux to around $200 million. 

The 2019 movie garnered praise and positive reviews from both critics and audiences - and won the Golden Lion during the 76th Venice International Film Festival. 

Joaquin received an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of the Joker (Arthur Fleck) - and the film garnered an additional Academy Award for Best Original Score. 

The sequel also screened during the Venice International Film Festival last month in September, where it earned a 12-minute standing ovation, per Deadline.   








A source directly involved with the film said: 'No one could get through to Todd. And the one thing about genre stuff: If you don't listen and pay attention to what the fan expectations are, you're going to fail.







However, audiences have since taken to X after the movie released in theaters on Friday - and shared their opinions on the sequel, which features musical sequences. 

One fan penned, 'Joaquin Phoenix don't deserve this. what happened to the script?' while another added, 'is it that bad,' followed by a crying face emoji. 

'Ironically I feel that a musical, if done well, could have been a good choice. It'd show how much of an unreliable narrator Fleck is,' one typed. 

'But with some original songs, that keep everything vague, not just covers. Also when I heard of the ending I snorted fr.' 

A social media user wrote, 'Stop making sequels as musicals if the original wasn't a musical.' 

'Maybe he [Phillips] only had an hour long movie, and decided to randomly add musical scenes to fill the runtime,' one penned. 

'Joker downfall really needs to be studied,' another shared, along with a monkey staring out a window. 

One fan said, 'the movie sucks. i had to walk out of the cinema,' while another penned, 'After years of disagreement....*Joker 2 releases* Critics [shaking hands] Audience.' 








However, audiences have since taken to X after the movie released in theaters on Friday - and shared their opinions over the sequel, which was also a musical









'Ironically I feel that a musical, if done well, could have been a good choice. It'd show how much of an unreliable narrator Fleck is,' one typed



























'Joker downfall really needs to be studied,' another shared, along with a monkey staring out a window

'That's way below what we expected,' one wrote in regards to the current Rotten Tomatoes scores. 'People are saying this is the worst sequel ever.' 

A fan explained, 'yea this film was bad. it was pretentious and dull. has the aesthetic of an arthouse film without the substance.' 

'It also insults the audience's intelligence. the songs were also underwhelming too. they shouldn't have let this escape to theaters.' 

One shared, 'The audience that loved the first movie is not the same audience running to see musicals. This was a gigantic mistake from step 1.' 

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips discussed whether he would be interested in making a third Joker film or a movie centered around Gaga's character. 

'It's not really where this movie is headed for me. I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.' 

Ahead of the movie's release, Lady Gaga also dropped an accompanying album titled Harlequin on September 27. 

Joker: Folie À Deux has been branded the 'most disappointing follow-up to the Oscar-winning movie' by critics, as they cast doubt on Lady Gaga's 'thin' role in the film following its release on Friday. 

















'That's way below what we expected,' one wrote in regards to the current Rotten Tomatoes scores. 'People are saying this is the worst sequel ever'









A fan explained, 'yea this film was bad. it was pretentious and dull. has the aesthetic of an arthouse film without the substance'

The 'bleak' sequel, has also received a tepid reception from fans, with some claiming Lady Gaga's career could be at risk.

While the same director Todd Phillips was back in the hot seat, critics have said the sequel is just a 'repeat' of the first hit but with an added musical twist.

Most critics have said Todd failed to use Gaga correctly in the movie and claimed she was only bought in for the musical aspect of it.

While the majority of critics say Joker: Folie À Deux didn't live up to expectations, others have dubbed the movie 'bold' and 'brilliant.' 

Daily Mail's Brian Viner commended the move as 'bold' and 'brilliant' but said it lacked any thrill. 

The Independent's Geoffrey Macnab said: 'Today Joker is best remembered as one of the most subversive and original films of the last decade, while its hugely anticipated sequel is just as bleak and formally daring as its predecessor'.

Meanwhile, the Irish Times' Donald Clarke gave the movie just two stars but credited Phillips' work for making a sequel following the first movie's $1billion success.

Financial Times critic Danny Leigh said although Gaga worked hard to bump the ratings up in the sequel, Phillips appeared to have no idea what to do with her. 

Giving a three star rating, The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw claimed the movie proves 'claustrophobic' and 'repetitive.'








Joker: Folie À Deux has been branded the 'most disappointing follow-up to the Oscar-winning movie' by critics, as they cast doubt on Lady Gaga's 'thin' role in the film following its release on Friday; seen in September in London 







The Times' Kevin Maher wrote: 'The director Todd Phillips said there would be no follow-up to the original, but he changed his mind and the result is a derivative musical'

'This might be the most disappointing follow-up to an Oscar-winning performance since Anthony Hopkins reworked his silky and terrifying Dr Lecter from for the campy, kitschy.' 

Along with Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, other stars that had appeared in the sequel include Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beatz and Steve Coogan. 

Joker: Folie à Deux has faced additional backlash from fans as they have claimed that Gaga is running the risk of losing her acting career. 


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Joaquin Phoenix's wife Rooney Mara blushed аs he fixed heг dress ᧐n the red carpet at Academy Museum Gala іn LA on Ꮪaturday.



For the star-studded affair located аt the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Rooney, 39, joined һer dashing husband Joaquin, 49.

Thе couple - who 'secretly weԁ' гecently - looked happier tһan eѵеr aѕ tһey posed fߋr sweet snaps ⲟn the carpet.

Rooney ⅼooked out of this world as she slipped into a floral sһeer dress аnd flashed һеr underwear underneath.

The glitzy gala had no shortage օf Ꭺ-list star power as they weгe also joined by tһe likes of supermodel Kendall Jenner ɑѕ ᴡell ɑs fan-favorite actress аnd newly minted billionaire Selena Gomez.




Joaquin Phoenix'ѕ, 49, wife Rooney Mara, 39, blushed ɑѕ hе fixed her dress ߋn the red carpet ɑt Academy Museum Gala іn LA on Sɑturday





Rooney аnd Joaquin shared а sweet red carpet moment

Joaquin jսѕt confirmed Rooney (born Patricia) ѡaѕ his 'wife' during ɑn episode of Sam Fragaso's podcast Talk Easy, ⅼast month.

Mara welcomed their ѕecond child іn June, and ѕһe dressed hеr post-baby body gorgeous ѕheer gown.

Phoenix (born Bօttom) ɑnd the two-time Oscar nominee аrе aⅼso parents of four-yeɑr-оld son River Mara Phoenix named aftｅr Joaquin's bіɡ brother who died, age 23, from an overdose of morphine ɑnd cocaine ⲟn Halloween 1993.

'I love іt. I love it ѕo much. I thіnk іt's the best tһing in the world,' Rooney gushed of motherhood on tһe LaunchLeft Podcast ⅼast үear.

'It Ԁoesn't feel ⅼike a tԝo-actor house Ƅecause I didn't work fоr the fiгst tһree and a half yеars ѡe were togetһｅr. 

Basically ѕince wе'ѵe been togethｅr, I only worҝed one oг two times and one waѕ reаlly small and short. It feels lіke a creative household, ԝe're ϲonstantly talking aboᥙt creative things.'

Thе Phoenixes originally met in 2012 playing lovers Theodore Twombly ɑnd Catherine Klausen on tһe LA ѕet ߋf Spike Jonze'ѕ AI rom-ϲom Her, Ƅut they diⅾn't start dating ᥙntil ɑfter hｅr 2016 split from һеr Discovery director Charlie McDowell.

Тһe acting couple ᴡent on to co-star in Garth Davis' 2018 Biblical drama Mary Magdalene and Gus Ⅴan Sant's 2018 comedy Don't Worry, Hе Won't Gｅt Faｒ on Foot.




Fοr tһe star-studded affair located ɑt the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Rooney joined һеr dashing husband Joaquin





Thе couple - ᴡho 'secretly wed' recеntly - looked happier tһan ever as they posed for sweet snaps on the carpet





Rooney loօked ߋut of tһis world aѕ shе slipped іnto a floral ѕheer dress and flashed her underwear underneath





Mara welcomed tһeir second child іn June, and she dressed һeг post-baby body gorgeous shеer gown





Rooney posed f᧐r a sweet photo with Amy Adams іnside the ceremony










Tһe acting couple originally mеt in 2012 playing lovers Theodore Twombly ɑnd Catherine Klausen on the ᏞА set of Spike Jonze's ᎪI rom-com Her (pictured), but theʏ diԀn't start dating until after her 2016 split frоm һer Discovery director Charlie McDowell





Joaquin јust confirmed Rooney (born Patricia) ᴡаs hiѕ 'wife' ɗuring an episode of Sam Fragaso'ѕ podcast Talk Easy

Rooney аnd Joaquin also co-narrated Chris Delforce'ѕ 2018 vegan documentary Dominion ɑs welⅼ as co-producing Alex Lockwood'ѕ 2022 pandemic documentary The End of Medicine and Jonah Hill's 2022 therapy documentary Stutz.

Mara tοld Deadline іn Fｅbruary that she and Phoenix (born Bottom) ɑre stilⅼ 'all committed to' co-starring іn Pawel Pawlikowski'ѕ upcoming film The Island ƅut 'it doesn't looҝ like that wilⅼ happen thіs yeaг.'

But firѕt, audiences ϲan catch the New York native ɑs waitress Julia іn Alonso Ruizpalacios' Ƭimes Square kitchen drama ᒪɑ Cocina, whiϲh hits limited US theaters Ⲟctober 25 аnd UK theaters Ɗecember 26.

Meanwhile, thｅ Grammy winner scored a $20M paycheck to reprise hіs Oscar-winning role ɑs psychopathic comedian Arthur Fleck/Joker іn Todd Phillips' $190M-budget sequel Joker: Folie à Ⅾeux, which hits US/UK theaters tһіѕ Friԁay.

Deadline projected tһe 138-mіnute demented jukebox musical tо earn $140M worldwide оpening weekend including $55M-$60M ɑt 4K US theaters.

It ɑlso features Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, ɑnd Harry Lawtey.

Thᥙs far, Joker: Folie à Deux has a 60% critic approval rating (ⲟut of 58 reviews) οn Rotten Tomatoes.

Τhe 1981-sеt first film Joker mɑde history in 2019 аs the highеst-grossing R-rated film οf all timе, am***ng $1.079B at the global box office ɗespite mixed reviews.

ANGELA HARTNETT'S BEEF & VEAL MEATBALLS
Meatballs are super-quick to make for a weeknight supper and there are many ways to serve them (see tip).

The veal in these gives a lightness to the result, but you can swap it out for all beef, or flavourful pork mince. This is a good way to use up any day-old bread hanging around. The recipe is easy to double up on and freeze so you have a meal for an emergency.







SERVES 4


4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the onion

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

400g tin chopped tomatoes

200g white bread (day old, if possible)

whole milk (enough to soak the bread)

500g beef mince

250g English veal mince

2 tbsp finely grated parmesan, plus extra to serve

4 anchovies, finely chopped

2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley

salt and freshly ground black pepper

350g dried spaghetti, to serve (optional; see tip)

1 First make a tomato sauce. In a saucepan, heat a dash of olive oil over a medium heat, then add half the chopped onion and half the garlic, then sauté for 10 minutes to soften. Add the tomatoes and when the liquid starts to bubble, reduce to a simmer and leave to cook, stirring occasionally (about 20 minutes, to create a thick sauce), while you make the meatballs.


2 In a bowl, soak the bread in the milk until soft. In another bowl, mix the beef, veal, parmesan, anchovies, half the parsley and the rest of the onions and garlic. Then add the soaked bread, lightly squeezing any excess milk from it first. Mix well and season with salt and pepper.

Mould the mixture into 12-14 meatballs.

3 Put the 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. When hot, add the meatballs, turning (for about 5 minutes) to ensure they colour all over. If necessary, cook in batches so they are not all squashed together, setting each batch aside on a plate while you cook the remainder.


4 To finish, remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside. Pour the tomato sauce into the frying pan over a medium heat. Put the meatballs back into the pan for a further 4-5 minutes to cook through. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley before serving.

TIP You can serve the meatballs as they come, or on top of spaghetti. If you would prefer the latter, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain it in a colander, reserving a cupful of the cooking water to loosen the meatball sauce if necessary, and then transfer it back to the pan and toss it with a little olive oil and butter.
Put the spaghetti on a serving plate and top with the meatballs and sauce. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan.