Joker: Folie à Deux has added Harry Lawtey to the ensemble cast led by Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, though as with previous casting announcements, details on his role are slim.
A sequel to Joker had long been speculated after the first film proved to be a success financially and during awards season, but it wasn't until the summer of 2022 that fans got official confirmation of a second installment. Director Todd Philips confirmed Joker 2 in June by sharing an image of the script cover and another with Phoenix reading the screenplay.
Deadline now confirms Lawtey as the latest newcomer to the Joker 2 cast, but precise details on the character he will play were not available and Warner Bros. reportedly declined to comment on the matter. That said, the outlet says Lawtey's role will be a "big one." Best known for his role as Robert Spearing in HBO and BBC Two's Industry, Lawtey joins a star-studded cast that currently includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Jacob Lofland. While exact details on the characters being played by these newcomers are elusive, Lofland is said to be portraying an unknown Arkham Asylum inmate who forms a bond with Phoenix's incarcerated Arthur Fleck.
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Of course, much of the Joker 2 speculation is centered on the role played by Lady Gaga, which is widely accepted to be that of Harley Quinn. This belief is supported by reports that Joker 2 will be set in Arkham Asylum, where Joker and Quinn traditionally begin their twisted romance in DC lore. Directed by Phillips, who penned the script with Scott Silver, Joker 2 is said to feature musical elements, and fans will likely learn more information once production begins in December 2022.
By now it's no secret that Joker divided audiences upon its release. Some viewed it as a refreshingly different take on the superhero formula while others felt it was too similar to superior films like works of Martin Scorsese. Plus, some people like David Fincher felt Joker addressed mental illness in ways that weren't exactly constructive.
Nonetheless, the film was a hit by box office and award standards, so it's hardly a surprise to see Warner Bros. include it as part of its DC slate. The future of the DCEU is a big question mark for fans right now, but Joker 2 is not considered a part of that canon, so audiences are likely eager to see what Phillips has planned considering he's not bound to the aforementioned struggling film universe.
Joker: Folie à Deux is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 4, 2024.
Source: Deadline