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. 



Read More

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. 


Lady GagaJoaquin Phoenix

Joe Aston got the kind of book launch every first time author dreams of - m***ve amounts of free publicity online, in newspapers and on TV and radio. 

And it was all thanks to Anthony Albanese's ill-informed attack on Aston over what was written in his book, The Chairman's Lounge - The Inside Story of how Qantas sold us out.



Despite the resultant terrible publicity - which has led to him being called 'upgrade Albo' - and calls for an inquiry, Aston told Daily Mail Australia his book is 'not a hit job on Anthony Albanese'.

Aston insisted he's 'not trying to get a scalp', but reiterated that the Prime Minister 'had a direct line to Alan Joyce'.

The book claims Mr Albanese got 22 upgrades from economy on Qantas flights by personally requesting them from the airline's then CEO Mr Joyce - which the Prime Minister has categorically denied.

According to unnamed Qantas 'insiders', 11 of the 22 flights Mr Albanese got upgrades for were 'privately funded' and included overseas trips to Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu. 

But instead of addressing the claim, Mr Albanese chose to shoot the messenger and, in turn, shot himself in the foot. 

He said Aston was using the accusations to sell books and said he was hiding his employment history. 

'I don't see declarations that he's a former Liberal Party staffer… I don't see declarations he's a former Qantas employee,' the Prime Minister said. 

But before the book even gets to the contents page there is a photo of Aston that refers to him as the then-Qantas corporate communications senior adviser. 




Joe Aston (pictured) got the kind of book launch every first time author dreams of - m***ve amounts of free publicity online, in newspapers and on TV and radio





Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with his fiance Jodie Haydon (left) and then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce on March 31, 2023 in Sydney, Australia

And the first chapter of the book reveals that he worked for then-Liberal MP Bruce Baird, who held the southern Sydney seat of Cook before Scott Morrison. 

'My professional history is not a secret or not disclosed, it's in the first line of the first page of the book,' Aston said on Tuesday night, just before his book launch. 

Though he was grateful for the free publicity Mr Albanese's response gave the book, Aston was still 'staggered' at the untrue claims about him the Prime Minister made. 

'He's under enormous pressure and I know, I've seen this many times with public figures and leaders who struggle to see their own part in it, the terrible circumstances that they create,' he said.



Read More

Extravagant Qantas perk Anthony Albanese FAILED to declare is revealed... after two days of denials


Asked if Mr Albanese had been poorly advised in his attack, Aston, who is a former Australian Financial Review columnist, wonders if the Prime Minister 'even listens to advice at this point'.

'All he's doing is talking around the issue and he's blaming me and he's blaming other MP's for also taking upgrades (on Qantas flights).

'He's avoiding the only thing that he can't talk about, which is, did you ask Qantas for confirmed upgrades on your private holidays when you were the Transport Minister? The answer is "yes" and he's desperately trying to avoid saying it.'

Smelling blood, Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the Prime Minister should refer himself to the anti-corruption commission over the flight upgrades.

Coming on top of Mr Albanese's tone deaf purchase of a $4.3million clifftop mansion while so many people are struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, the latest blow to his credibility has led to calls for him to resign.

Aston refuses to be drawn on this, though. 

'I never expected this (part of the book) to even this part to get this far. I really am shocked at how it's blown up.




Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with the then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce





Anthony Albanese is pictured on August 14, 2023 as Qantas unveiled its Yes23 livery in support of a Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum 





Among the movers and shakers at Joe Aston's book launch in the ritzy Hemmesphere club in Sydney was Tabcorp director David Gallop (pictured)





Paul Barry (pictured in blue shirt), the host of the ABC's Media Watch show, was also at the launch

'So to the extent that it has, I would say ... anyone who reads the book will learn that this book is not a hit job on Anthony Albanese. This book is about Qantas. 

'Anthony Albanese is an example of how Qantas influences politicians on both sides of the aisle, Labor, Liberal, National, you name it. They've been doing it for more than a generation.

'They're the best influence peddler in Australia. I'm not here trying to get a scalp. That's not what this book is about and it never was.'

But the conversation Daily Mail Australia had with Aston mirrors the conversations being had across Australia and eventually winds up back on Mr Albanese. 

'Even I've underestimated how fed up the public is with the freebie mindset of politicians,' he said.











Guests at Joe Aston's book launch on Tuesday night are pictured pointing for emphasis or to someone they recognise





There was no shortage of free alcohol (pictured) available at the launch of Joe Aston's book 





Joe Aston is pictured in the exclusive Hemmesphere club in Sydney, where his book The Chairman's Lounge was launched

'And unfortunately for Albanese, he's been in politics a long time and that kind of behaviour is quite normalised to him, is what I've seen. 

'I mean, he loves the free concert tickets and sitting at the front row of the Australian Open Tennis. 

'I went to the Australian Open Tennis as a journalist almost every year for 12 years and he was the only Prime Minister (I saw there).

'Those tickets are worth thousands of dollars to sit in the front row of the International Grand Slam. He's the first Prime Minister who I've ever seen do that.

'That to me is a sign that he doesn't quite get what it looks like to others when he's on the gravy train. And I think (the claims in the book are) just another example of that.'

In Australian politics it's regular practise for an MP's travel to be booked in economy, then someone in their office phones the airline and asks if their flight can be upgraded. 

The difference with the Prime Minister is that 'he had a very direct line to Alan Joyce,' Aston said.

'The other thing is there's a difference between an upgrade where it's in the booking and if the seat's empty when the flight closes, you'll get upgraded.

'This is different. This is a confirmed upgrade where the ticket is converted and you are guaranteed. You're not going to the airport crossing your fingers going "Geez, I hope there is a spare seat".



'You're guaranteed. You turn up knowing you're getting a seat and the only person at Qantas who can issue those types of upgrades is the CEO. No other executive can do that.

'So it is beyond question that Alan joints authorised these upgrades (for Anthony Albanese).'

Aston enjoyed many upgrades to the pointy end of planes during his time as a travel journalist, and understands the attraction for politicians to get up there. 

'These things are tempting and it's human nature too. Once you've experienced the front of the plane, it's very hard to go back.

'For politicians, they run around with all these staff and they've got chauffeured cars and they fly in business, but they don't get paid like CEOs ...

'They're not in a situation where they can afford to go flying around in the front of the plane on personal travel. 

'A normal person would say "Therefore I won't (fly business class). But (for politicians) it's a culture of entitlement.'

Aston is careful to point out that most people would say politicians are 'very well paid compared to the average worker'.

But that doesn't stop some MPs from desperately seeking a free ride, whether it's a flight upgrade, concert tickets or the executive box at sporting events. 


Late on Wednesday night, a spokeswoman Mr Albanese said 'The Prime Minister did not ever call Alan Joyce seeking an upgrade'.

'All travel has been appropriately declared and is a matter of public record.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment.  

The Chairman's Lounge - The Inside Story of how Qantas sold us out, by Joe Aston, is available now in bookshops and from online retailers

WHAT IS THE QANTAS CHAIRMAN'S LOUNGE?

The Qantas Chairman's Lounge is an invitation-only club approved by the company chairman, with the guest list a closely-guarded secret.

It has been dubbed 'the most exclusive club in the country' and comes with a distinct black card.

Members include senior-ranking MPs such as ministers, state premiers and the Prime Minister, leaders of major unions and sporting groups, Qantas ambassadors, selected A-list celebrities, major corporate figures and high-profile media personalities.

The clubs can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide airports but are not signposted - you have to know where to look.

Inside you will find expensive wood and brass furnishings, wool carpet and marble flooring, all bathed in natural light. 

Members enjoy fine à la carte dining with a complimentary premium array of beers, spirits and Australian wines. Wine bottles are often given as departing gifts.

Facilities may also include spas, showers and an assortment of books and magazines.

Members may bring in two guests at a time. 

Lounge attendants personally alert you when your flight is ready to board, and your personal preferences are logged for each flight. 

Membership also entitles you to first-class facilities at Qantas partner airlines.

Source: Executive Traveller



Anthony Albanese

Smile 2 and Terrifier 3 are set for a horror box office showdown this weekend.


Terrifier 3 - made for just $2million - has become a surprise hit, raking in $28.6million so far and knocking Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga film Joker: Folie à Deux off the top of the US box office.

But the clown horror faces fierce competition from the sequel to 2022's Smile - which became a smash hit making $217million against a $17million budget.

Smile 2 - starring Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage and Ray Nicholson - will drop October 18 with The Wrap predicting the film could make $22million over its opening weekend.

The synopsis reads: 'About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events.




Smile 2 (pictured Naomi Scott in a scene from the film) and Terrifier 3 are set for a horror box office showdown this weekend





Terrifier 3 - made for just $2million - has become a surprise hit, raking in $28.6million so far and knocking Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga film Joker: Folie à Deux off the top of the US box office 







'Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her past.'



Read More

Terrifier 3 dethrones Joker: Folie À Deux as box office champ


The original horror film starred Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick's daughter, Sosie Bacon, 30, as Rose Carter, a doctor who witnesses her patient experience a traumatic death.

The physician then begins to have her own haunting experiences, including incidents in which she faces people with forced smiles. 

Rose quickly learns she must face her own troubling past before time runs out and the evil force claims her life.   

Terrifier 3 stars David Howard Thornton as homicidal clown Art who brutally murders an array of victims in stomach churning scenes.

The film written and directed by Damien Leone, is an un-rated blood fest, which has received a 78-percent rating from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes.  Audiences have 'certified' it 'hot' and given it a healthy 90-percent on the popcornmeter.

The film earned $18.3 million at the box office according to The Numbers.   




Smile 2 - starring Scott, Lukas Gage (pictured) and Ray Nicholson - will drop October 18 with The Wrap predicting the film could make $22million over its opening weekend





Terrifier 3 stars David Howard Thornton as homicidal clown Art who brutally murders an array of victims in stomach churning scenes  





2022's Smile became a smash hit - making $217million against a $17million budget.







Landing in third place was Joker: Folie à Deux. After winning the box office competition during its debut weekend could not overcome the bad reviews, enduring an 82-percent decline in ticket sales.

The movie collected only $7.055 million, in spite of being in more than four thousand theaters across the US. 


Lukas GageLady GagaNaomi Scott

Lady Gaga is set to release her seventh studio album in February.


Despite lead single Disease stalling on the Hot 100 at No. 27, the 38-year-old is forging ahead with her next album, which she described as both 'fun' and 'darker.'

Speaking to Vogue magazine about the project, Gaga said that she's been focused on the production side of her new songs. 

'I love producing — I always have — and something that was really important to me making my seventh studio album was blending live instrumentation with programming,' she explained.

'The album is chaotic from a genre perspective — it is genre-bending, and I think in that way is a deeply personal look into my mind as a producer and the way I think about music.'

She also said that the album has a 'darker pop' sound that's more in line with her iconic 2009 album, The Fame Monster. 

However, fans need not be worried that Gaga is going too somber with her sound. 

'The album is not extremely serious in that it's very fun and meant to be enjoyed at a party, in a club, or at home having personal fun time — to be free of your worries at home or walking through life,' she insisted. 




Lady Gaga is focused on releasing her seventh studio album this February following the disappointing reception to lead single Disease

Gaga released the album's lead single Disease last month to rave reviews from music critics, who lauded it as a return to the star's roots.

Unfortunately, the acclaim failed to translate to the charts, with Disease debuting at No. 27 on the Hot 100 - her worst entry for a lead single in 16 years.

On the bright side, Gaga is currently enjoying one of her biggest hits in years thanks to her Bruno Mars duet, Die With a Smile. 

The ballad has so far reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Pop Airplay Chart.

It comes after Gaga's leading role in the disastrous Joker: Folie à Deux. 

The follow-up to the Oscar-winning 2019 film, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck (Joker) and Gaga as Lee Quinzel (Harley Quinn), faced negative reviews from critics before its October 4 release and flopped at the box office.

Tim, 39, who played a guard at Arkham Asylum in the movie, said Todd Philips's new film has 'no plot' and admitted he knew it was 'going to bomb' while filming. 

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Tim said: 'It's the worst film ever made.




Gaga told Vogue magazine that she's been focused on the production side of her new songs





Gaga released the album's lead single Disease last month to rave reviews from music critics, but the song flopped on the Hot 100

'I think what happened, after the first Joker, there was a lot of talk like, "Oh, this was loved by incels. This was loved by the wrong kinds of people. This sent the wrong kind of message. Male rage! Nihilism!" All these think pieces.

'And then I think, "What if we went the other way," and now they have Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga tap dancing to a point where it's insane,' he continued.

'It has no plot. We would sit there, me and these other guys were all dressed in these security outfits because we're working at the Arkham Asylum, and I would turn to one of them and we'd hear this *** and I'd go, "What the f*** is this?" And they'd go, "This is going to bomb, man." I go, "This is the worst thing I've ever seen."

'We were talking about it at lunch, and we'd go, "What is the plot? Is there a plot? I don't know, I think he falls in love with her in the prison?" It's not even hate-watchable. That's how terrible it is.'


Joaquin PhoenixLady Gaga

To round 1155 to the nearest 10, we look at the digit in the tens place, which is 5.
Since 5 is equal to or greater than 5, we round up. Therefore, 1155 rounded
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What is 327 to the nearest thousand?


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