Todd Phillips, the man behind the camera for the acclaimed Joker and its sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, has declared he is finished with the DC Universe.
TODD PHILLIPS AND JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX
This announcement comes on the heels of disappointing critical reception for the sequel, which currently holds a dismal 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans had high hopes following the initial screenings at the Venice Film Festival, where the film received mixed-to-positive reviews, according to IMDB.
However, as public screenings rolled out, audience reactions turned sharply negative.
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX’S REVIEWS
Many viewers took to social media to express their discontent, leading to a rapid decline in the film’s ratings, according to Far Out Magazine.
Johnny Oleksinski of The New York Post offered a scathing critique, giving the film just one star.
He stated, “For nearly two and a half hours, director Todd Phillips’ pathologically unnecessary movie cycles through so many potential reasons to exist. It ultimately never finds a satisfying one.”
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX’S NARRATIVE
Such sentiments were echoed across various platforms, with viewers questioning the film’s narrative and its execution.
Phillips spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about his future in the franchise.
“It’s not really where this movie is headed for me. I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.”
TODD PHILLIPS AND THE JOKER
His comments suggest that the director feels his journey with the iconic character has come to an end. This has left fans wondering what this means for the future of the Joker in film.
The addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn was a key talking point in the lead-up to the film’s release.
Phillips recounted how they brought her on board.
“I think we sent her half the script, and she texted me pretty quickly that she was really into it.”
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX’S DIRECTION
Yet, many fans have expressed disappointment with the film’s direction, particularly its decision to lean into musical elements.
One viewer tweeted, “Musicals are good and there should be more of them.
Joker 2 is bad because it’s nonsensical, unfocused, and the story has no reason to exist.”
CINEMA WALK OUTS
Another user lamented, “What makes Joker 2 so bad is that it refuses to commit to ANYTHING.
There’s no theme at all, the court scenes are boring, and the shock value ending is worse than I expected.” Reports of walkouts during screenings have added to the film’s troubles.
One theatre-goer remarked, “Never seen it happen before, but every musical set piece this film did, more and more people kept leaving the theatre.”
This sentiment captures the film’s struggle to resonate with its audience.
FUTURE OF THE JOKER
Despite the gloomy reviews, some South African fans still cling to hope for future iterations of the Joker.
Yet, with Phillips stepping away, the direction of the franchise remains uncertain. Many are now curious to see how Warner Bros. will proceed without one of its most prominent directors.
As the dust settles from this disappointing release, fans and critics alike are left to ponder the future of the Joker on screen.
Will another director be able to bring the iconic character back to his former glory? Only time will tell. In the meantime, Todd Phillips’ farewell marks the end of an era for one of DC’s most complex characters.
DID YOU AGREE WITH THE CRITICS’ REVIEWS?
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