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Warner Bros. Chiefs Defend ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ as “Revisionist” Despite Box Office Failure

They praise Todd Phillips for refusing to repeat the 2019 hit, conceding the sequel failed to resonate with a global audience.

Overview

  • Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca told TheWrap they still back the 2024 sequel, calling its musical turn a deliberate, revisionist choice.
  • Joker: Folie à Deux grossed about $206–207 million worldwide on a reported ~$200 million budget, far below the first film’s $1 billion haul.
  • The film drew largely negative reviews, received no Oscar recognition, and collected Razzie awards including Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.
  • Abdy and De Luca’s positions stabilized after a strong 2025 slate with box office successes and awards contenders such as Sinners, Weapons, and a Paul Thomas Anderson film leading the season.
  • Coverage notes no concrete DCU plans for Joker or Harley at present, with reports suggesting Barry Keoghan could return as an Elseworlds Joker in The Batman Part II.