“There’s no 200 Million movie..”: WB Exec Shouted at Joker 2 Director Todd Phillips For His “Utter Malpractice” With the Movie
Joker: Folie à Deux, aka Joker 2, was one of the most anticipated films of last year. Everyone was eager to know what Todd Phillips would do next, now that he had talent powerhouses like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga to carve out a new creative vision.
But the movie turned out to be a disaster, sparking debates about what exactly went wrong with it. No one liked this star-studded musical, with two of the most renowned artists playing DC’s beloved characters. So, let’s dive into the numbers and the drama behind Joker 2.
Joker 2’s $200 million gamble gone wrong
The original Joker made history, as it became the first R-rated movie that grossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office (via The Numbers). We were introduced to Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck as he tried to find his way in the bleak world of Gotham. People empathized with his character, and Phoenix even won a Best Actor award at the Oscars.
There are many opinions about the Joker 2; while some argue that it should have never been made, others believe it should not have been a musical. But how could one resist the prospect of a sequel after a billion-dollar hit? So the project was greenlit, and everything that could go wrong went wrong.
Todd Phillips did not preserve the integrity of his original movie and downplayed Arthur Fleck as some loser. The intent of their message was understood, but one can’t do it to a character that was loved by millions of people because they resonated with him.
Todd Phillips’ missteps and the studio’s backlash for Joker 2
It might come as a surprise to many, but as per reports, Joker 2 never had a test screening because Todd Phillips did not want the movie to be leaked (via Puck). He did the same with the first part, but that was made on a budget of $55 million.
This time around, he was putting $190 million of the production budget at risk, and they struggled to break even with only $207 million at the worldwide box office (via The Numbers). One executive at the studio even lost his cool and said, “You don’t allow the refusal to test-screen. There’s no $200 million movie in the business that you don’t test-screen! It’s utter malpractice!”
Test screenings are important to gauge the audience’s reaction to the film, and they’re even done by some of the largest franchises and studios who can’t afford any plot leaks. So Phillis had no excuse to refuse this crucial process as it put everything at risk. If anything, Joker 2 is a stark reminder that even the most successful creatives aren’t immune to missteps.
You can watch Joker 2 on HBO Max.
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