Confusion abounds about whether the smash hit D.C. Comics’ film Joker will get a sequel. The film sold more then $1 billion in tickets worldwide, but no one knows for sure if Warner Bros. can talk director Todd Phillips to write and direct a new film. Nor is anyone sure Joaquin Phoenix will take on the role once more. Money won’t be enough to get either of these two. Phoenix said he’s not interested in solely a paycheck. Reportedly, he doesn’t need to worry about money because the actor received a significant percentage of the gross per his contract.
Recently, rumors swirled that a sequel to Joker was eminent with Phillips and Phoenix returning. Then, word came out that the sequel wasn’t happening. Todd Phillips clarified the situation by stating, “There’s no contract.”
Verbal agreements and discussions don’t mean much of anything. Until everyone involved signs a contract to work on the film, then nothing is official. Phillips revealed he spoke repeatedly with Warner Bros. executives about doing a sequel, but no formal agreement has been placed in front of him. The director is not saying “No” to a sequel, but he is saying nothing is set yet. Time will tell how everything works out.
According to highsnobiety.com, Warner Bros. wants a sequel because the subsidiary of a publicly-traded company wouldn’t mind adding hundreds of millions of more dollars to its balance sheets. Warner Bros. and D.C. Entertainment suffered through several nonperforming movies such as Batman v. Superman and the box-office flop Justice League. Wonder Woman and Aquaman were massive hits, but they came with budgets above $100 million. Joker’s budget was only around $60 million. The film’s low budget now guarantees a $500 million profit from the theatrical release alone. Blu-ray/DVD, Video on Demand, and licensing rights will bring in millions upon millions more.
Ironically, Warner Bros. won’t make anywhere near as much as it could have with Joker. Offering percentages of the gross to talent as a way to keep the budget low means Warner Bros. must now pay. Also, the production company sold off ownership rights to other companies to lessen its financial risk. Joker, even with the relatively low budget, was a risk. Reasonable projections last year suggested a film making about $150 – $200 million worldwide, which would be a break-even amount.
The R-rated film that broke apart traditional Batman canon turned out to be an incredible hit. Warner Bros. probably wants a better deal if it can get a sequel.
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