First Joker 2 plot details suggest the DC movie will be mostly set in Arkham Asylum

Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker in Joker
(Image credit: Warner Bros)

The first Joker 2 plot details are here – and they suggest that the upcoming DC movie will revolve around the titular villain's time at Arkham Asylum. It has already been confirmed that the film, which is set to be a sequel to Todd Phillips' gritty drama, will see Joaquin Phoenix reprise his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck.

Towards the end of the 2019 flick, Arthur was admitted to the Gotham City psychiatric hospital. Moments before the credits roll, however, he appears to kill the doctor that was treating him before running off and being chased by guards. If The Wrap's report turns out to be on the money, it sounds like he didn't manage to escape as the movie will predominantly take place inside the infamous establishment's walls.

Given the movie's working title, Joker: Folie à Deux – which refers to the clinical term for the 'shared madness', hallucinations, and delusions of two people – the location is hardly surprising. It also checks out with reports that Lady Gaga will play Harley Quinn, who the Clown Prince of Crime first meets in Arkham. 

While Joker was a violent, melancholic tale of Arthur's transformation from failed stand-up comedian to murderous menace, Joker: Folie à Deux will be a musical. Those who have seen Birds of Prey will remember Margot Robbie's Harley blocking out a beating from Ewan McGregor's Roman Sionis by slipping into a manic vision of herself performing 'Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend', so perhaps Joker 2 will build on that idea.

Scheduled to release in October 4, 2024, we've still got a little while to wait before we see what Warner Bros. and DC are cooking up with Joker: Folie à Deux. In the meantime, check out our breakdown of all the upcoming movies coming our way in 2022 and beyond.

Amy West

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

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"
The Batman
The Batman 2 director teases "completely different" sequel, as he promises the movie's main villain will surprise DC fans
Robert Pattinson in The Batman
The Batman 2 release date, cast, plot, and everything else you need to know about the DC movie
The Batman
Robert Pattinson reveals that he finally knows what The Batman 2 is about, but he's not giving anything away
Joker: Folie À Deux Easter eggs
Lady Gaga addresses Joker 2 backlash: "People just sometimes don't like some things"
Robert Pattinson in The Batman
Matt Reeves explains why The Batman 2 is delayed to 2027, but says they still want to film this year
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"