Brendan Gleeson to star opposite Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker 2

Brendan Gleeson
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brendan Gleeson has joined the cast of Joker 2, officially titled Joker: Folie à Deux. He'll star opposite Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn and Joaquin Phoenix as the titular Clown Prince of Crime, per Deadline. Zazie Beetz is also back in her role from the original film, while Todd Phillips returns to direct. 

Details on Gleeson's role are under wraps, and considering the first Joker movie didn't really delve into the comic book world of Batman, it's difficult to predict just who he might be playing. 

So far, the film is pretty much shrouded in mystery, but it will reportedly be a musical set inside Arkham Asylum. Cast your minds back, and you'll remember that Joker ended with Arthur Fleck arrested and taken to Arkham State Hospital. It would seem he's going to meet Gaga's Harley Quinn there, and if the story follows the comic book history, she'll be his psychiatrist. 'Folie à Deux' means 'shared madness,' in another clue that the film will be a Joker and Harley-centric story. You can read our thoughts on why Gaga is the perfect choice for Harley through the link. 

DC has been making waves lately after the shock cancellation of Batgirl, scrapped after the movie had actually been filmed. Aquaman 2 and Shazam 2 were also recently delayed

Joker 2 is expected to start filming this year, though it won't arrive until October 4, 2024. While you wait for the film, check out our guide to all of this year's upcoming major movie release dates for everything 2022 has in store for us. 

Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English. 

Read more
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn on set of Joker 2
Lady Gaga jokingly celebrates Joker 2 reception and Razzie nominations: "Joke's on them. I love winning things"
Joker: Folie À Deux Easter eggs
Lady Gaga addresses Joker 2 backlash: "People just sometimes don't like some things"
Colin Farrell wins Golden Globe for The Penguin
The Penguin star Colin Farrell pays tribute to Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix's "extraordinary" comic book performances after winning Golden Globe
The Batman
The Batman 2 director teases "completely different" sequel, as he promises the movie's main villain will surprise DC fans
The Batman
Robert Pattinson reveals that he finally knows what The Batman 2 is about, but he's not giving anything away
Robert Pattinson in The Batman
The Batman 2 release date, cast, plot, and everything else you need to know about the DC movie
Latest in DC Movies
The cast of Suicide Squad (2016)
David Ayer admits James Gunn has good reason not to release his cut of Suicide Squad, but he remains hopeful it'll happen
Ben Affleck in Zack Snyder's Justice League
Ben Affleck reflects on the "excruciating experience" playing Batman in the Zack Snyder movies: "A lot of it was misalignment of agendas, understandings, expectations"
James Gunn
James Gunn reacts to Jason Momoa almost spoiling his Lobo costume in an interview: "I just want to profoundly thank Jason’s publicist"
Jason Momoa next to Lobo
Jason Momoa has gone method taking on the role of Lobo: "I asked everybody to call me by my character's name"
Batgirl movie
Unearthed Daredevil-like fight scene from DC's canceled Batgirl movie gives us a taste of what we could have had
Jason Momoa in A Minecraft Movie
Jason Momoa says the DCU's Lobo is "exactly like" the comic book character in upcoming Supergirl movie
Latest in News
Final Fantasy 16 protagonist Clive uses magic in closeup screenshot
Despite fans begging for Tifa, Final Fantasy 16's Clive is "significantly more popular" than any other Tekken guest fighter
Spider-Man 4
There might be an obvious reason why Tom Holland's Spider-Man wasn't announced for Avengers: Doomsday
Patrick Stewart in X-Men
Marvel fans are already theorizing how Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden's X-Men will be integrated into Avengers: Doomsday
Daredevil: Born Again episode 6
Daredevil's Charlie Cox isn't in the Avengers: Doomsday cast list – but Marvel fans have an idea about how he might still show up
Simu Liu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Simu Liu had the best reaction to Shang-Chi’s announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, but fans think it's "criminal" there hasn’t been a direct sequel
Robert Downey Jr. during the Doctor Doom announcement at Marvel's SDCC 2024 panel
There may still be some big names missing from the Avengers: Doomsday cast list, but Marvel teases that "there's always room for more"