After the success of 2019’s “Joker,” which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, expectations were high for the sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” especially with the participation of Lady Gaga.
But the music and some creative decisions left both fans and critics disappointed.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Director Todd Phillips detailed the decision to remove the kiss between the two women from the film’s court scene.
He explained that he wanted to maintain the flow of music throughout the scene and chose a smooth and similar atmosphere throughout the scene, especially “[distracting] from music.”
Phillips revealed, “It has dialogue and I wanted it to be more of a musical moment and vibe.”
The scene that was supposed to feature Lady Gaga and another woman was not included in the final cut, leaving fans disappointed.
@oasisraindrops said on X, “[Phillips] did everything possible to ruin this movie wow.”
@berkbilas added, “so they’re homophobic.”
@therealvibesrab said: “They just want Lady Gaga to sing. The movie has no plot, just vibe.”
Although critics praised the “Poker Face” singer for her role in the film, the film’s financial results did not meet expectations.
Joker 2, which had an estimated budget of $190 to $200 million, along with an additional $100 million spent on marketing, opened to just $37.7 million at the domestic box office.
Global earnings were at $114 million, a significant distance from the $450 million needed to break even.
According to Wall Street analyst Dan Ives, “This is a black eye for Warner Bros. at a critical time, when the industry is expecting a hit.”
“The timing couldn’t be worse.”
This comes amid reports that Lady Gaga felt “shocked” by the negative reviews of her latest film.
An insider told the Daily Mail, “She put a lot of herself into the movie and has a lot of respect for the DC comics fan community.”
“Her team is quietly looking at other projects they can launch because they want to move forward with this project as quickly as possible.”
They added, “She’s disappointed because Joker is almost a bomb.”
Keywords Lady Gaga, Joker