Todd Phillips’ Joker in 2019 was a huge success for Warner Bros, and it raked in more than $1 billion at the box office. This was unprecedented for an R-rated comic-book adaptation and highlighted the pulling power of the legendary DC Comics character.
Although it had originally been planned as a standalone picture, Joker’s immense popularity has led to a sequel. Joker: Folie à Deux is set for release in October, and the new offering could finally kickstart the planned DC Black series from Warner Bros.
Joker Has Great Franchise Potential
There are few characters in the history of entertainment as notorious as the Joker. In fact, the DC villain is often mentioned in lists alongside the likes of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes in terms of worldwide fame. There’s no doubt that Warner Bros. has a product with vast franchise potential, and the crazed clown could easily front a new shared universe with darker characters.
Aside from leading to spinoffs, Joker is also an excellent option to expand into games. Various titles have already been inspired by the character’s likeness, such as Stellar Joker. The title is listed among the top online slots in Canada, and its distinctive thumbnail can grab players’ attention easily. Due to the popularity of this, Warner Bros. could launch a range of reel spinners to promote its future DC Black series offerings.
What is the DC Black Series?
There have been rumors about a DC Black series for some, with Joker originally billed as the movie to start it off. This hasn’t come to fruition yet, but it could do so if the sequel is as much of a box-office sensation as its predecessor.
Countless villains in the DC Comics universe would make for excellent character studies in the same vein as Phillips’ 2019 offering. That picture gave viewers an insight into the Joker’s way of thinking for the first time and allowed them to see the world from his twisted perspective.
It would be interesting to do this with other deranged characters such as the Riddler and Mad Hatter. There are also reports that The Demon and Kingdom Come could be upcoming offerings in the DC Black series.
What Do We Know About the New Joker Picture?
While the original Joker was highly ambitious and represented a gamble for the studio, the premise of Joker: Folie à Deux is even more audacious. The new film will be a musical, centering on the blossoming relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn in Arkham Asylum.
Lady Gaga will join the cast as Quinn, with Joaquin Phoenix and Zazie Beetz reprising their roles from the original. Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Steve Coogan will also play parts in the story.
Joker: Folie à Deux has the chance to follow on from the success of its predecessor and attract more viewers to the darker side of DC. This could be the perfect time for the studio to capitalize and move forward with its plans for the DC Black series.