Behind the scenes turmoil of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

Glamour on the red carpet masks deeper tensions

On September 30, the TCL Chinese Theatre hosted a dazzling event for the premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux. Lady Gaga blew kisses to ecstatic fans, while Joaquin Phoenix surprised many by dropping his typical solemn demeanor in favor of a few rare smiles. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, mingled at the after-party, sharing space with high-paid stars and enjoying meatless sliders—an idea championed by vegan Phoenix himself. Despite the star-studded turnout, noticeable absences were DC Studios notable heads, James Gunn and Peter Safran.

A dysfunctional dynamic behind the scenes

Insiders reveal that the absence of Gunn and Safran from the premiere of a major DC film highlights the behind-the-scenes dysfunction at Warner Bros. Director Todd Phillips reportedly had no desire to interact with DC during the film’s production, a sentiment supported by his unique carve-out that minimized oversight from DC’s top officials. Although Gunn showed his support for the film on social media, Phillips maintained a clear distance. The lack of a DC Studios logo in the animated title sequence at the premiere said it all; it was Phillips’ subtle but clear message to DC.

The struggle for creative control

“If the first movie was about a down-on-his-luck, mentally ill guy in a downtrodden city, it might make $150 million worldwide, not a billion. People showed up because that guy was Joker,” says an insider. The internal disconnect was evident, as Warner Bros. execs faced a frenzied post-premiere period trying to understand why $200 million was spent on a tentpole film that seemed to disregard its core audience. A scathing review summed up the disconnect: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux has a message for fans: Go F-ck Yourselves.’

A disappointing opening weekend

The much-anticipated sequel opened to a surprising $37.7 million domestically, a dramatic drop compared to the original Joker, which cost $60 million and grossed $1.1 billion. The film’s disregard for its loyal fanbase has significant brand repercussions. Joker is one of the most recognized villains, in both the DC and Marvel universes. Warner Bros. execs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy seemed hesitant to intervene, likely due to Phillips’ profitable previous projects, including the first Joker and the Hangover series. The reluctance to challenge Phillips led to a film that strayed far off course.

For more details, you can watch the trailer here.

Challenging dynamics with Warner Bros.

The film’s production began in December 2022, just two months after Gunn and Safran assumed leadership at DC. Given the substantial budget, it was expected that the duo would provide input on this R-rated musical. Instead, Phillips preferred to work with De Luca and Abdy, a decision that only deepened the apparent friction. Even Warner Bros.’ feedback was often overlooked. Plans to film in Los Angeles, encouraged by Zaslav, went ahead despite budget concerns that favored London as a cheaper alternative.

The choice to debut the film at the Venice Film Festival clashed with studio preferences, another instance of Phillips’ stubbornness winning out. Critics were less than kind, and with a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film faced a challenging start. The refusal to test screen Joker: Folie à Deux added to its troubles, marking the Venice premiere as the film’s first encounter with an audience.

Financial implications and a changing landscape

Creating a sequel for a billion-dollar franchise typically seems like a safe bet, whether for Aquaman or Joker. However, Joker: Folie à Deux‘s oversized budget meant it needed to make at least $450 million at the box office to break even, a now slim possibility. Warner Bros. has faced a string of recent financial disappointments, and the parent company’s stock price has hit near-record lows.

The sequel’s struggles underscore deeper issues within the studio. The lack of Bradley Cooper’s producing influence, notable from the original Joker‘s success, possibly hampered the sequel’s potential. Industry experts suggest that Phillips’ isolation from fan expectations contributed significantly to the film’s underperformance.

The broader impact on DC strategy

Warner Bros. CEO’s vision included a 10-year plan for DC, inspired by Marvel’s success under Kevin Feige. Yet, Joker: Folie à Deux somehow evaded this cohesive strategy, creating a rift with DC’s core audience. Analyst Jeff Bock highlights this as a major misstep, comparing it to the disaster of Speed 2. Warner Bros. is celebrating Beetlejuice 2 as a hit while grappling with the significant flop of this new Joker installment.

Eventually, Joker 2 took a direction that initially intrigued but ultimately failed to align with audiences’ preferences, resulting in a dramatic fall from its predecessor’s heights. Choices were made, and unfortunately, they didn’t resonate with moviegoers.

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