Back in 2019, Joker made over $1 billion on a budget of just $60 million.
The arthouse gamble paid off for Warner Bros as the DC solo movie became the first R-rated movie to hit the milestone.
Add Joaquin Phoenix’s Best Actor Oscar win and it was only a matter of time before a sequel was announced.
Joker: Folie à Deux is set for release later this year with both director Todd Phillips and the star returning, alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in the musical follow-up.
And now the latest report is that the blockbuster’s budget has ballooned to $200 million, alongside news of the actors’ mammoth paydays.
According to Variety, Phoenix’s salary for Joker 2 is $20 million, up from $4.5 million for the first film. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga is being paid somewhere in the region of $12 million.
No doubt Warner Bros are hoping for another $1 billion hit with the sequel that will no doubt get awards season interest come 2025.
Joker: Folie à Deux hits cinemas on October 4, 2024.
