DC director hints there are no plans for future films in his Elseworlds franchise

As a gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the vast worlds of both DC and Marvel, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and nostalgia as the DC Universe undergoes its metamorphosis. The Elseworlds initiative, with its focus on self-contained franchises like Batman and Joker, is an exciting departure from the traditional interconnected universe we’re accustomed to.

The DC Universe is currently undergoing reconstruction, with many components in motion as James Gunn and Peter Safran aim to transform DC Studios into a powerhouse comparable to Marvel Studios. Their strategy involves crafting a unified universe similar to the MCU, encompassing both films and TV series within a single continuity. Additionally, they’re planning to establish a separate universe apart from the mainstream DCU, where popular franchises can thrive under the Elseworlds label.

As a dedicated gamer of the DC universe, so far, I’ve got my eyes on just two active series that fall under the Elseworlds banner: Matt Reeves’ Batman saga and Todd Phillips’ Joker tale.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the next installments of these two iconic franchises rooted in the rich lore of DC Comics. Although the tales unfold beyond the bounds of the official DC Universe (DCU), set to debut in 2025 with “Superman” (formerly known as “Superman: Legacy”), it came as no shock when DC announced their intention to expand these franchises further, given their proven success. It’s understandable that DC is careful not to complicate matters as they prepare for the launch of their new DCU by keeping these film franchises separate from the DCU for now.

In September, the Reeves Batman series will grow with the release of “The Penguin” and “The Batman: Part 2” slated for 2026. Director Reeves has expressed a desire to extend his universe beyond these two productions. However, it appears that “Joker: Folie à Deux” might serve as the concluding tale in Phillips’ Elseworlds saga.

There are no plans for Joker 3

As excitement builds for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” director Todd Phillips has shared insights about the sequel to his 2019 Academy Award-winning movie. In this latest interview, he discusses his decision to revisit the franchise and takes the project to new heights by transforming it into a musical. Notably, Lady Gaga has been cast as Harley Quinn in this innovative adaptation.

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but echo Phillips’ excitement about delving back into the universe of this iconic franchise in its sequel, but it appears he’s now ready to part ways with the story and has clarified that currently, there are no plans for a third Joker movie.

Phillips shared with Variety that it was enjoyable to work within this type of sandbox for two films, but he feels we’ve conveyed everything we intended to express in this universe.

If the second movie in the series performs as successfully as the first one did in 2019, there could potentially be an attempt to convince Phillips to carry on with the franchise by making a third film. Nevertheless, given that he seems to view and handle this sequel as the conclusion of the story he initially wanted to tell, the probability of him returning for another installment is quite slim.

To put it simply, while it’s common for superhero franchises to span over three films, there’s no necessity that Phillips’ Joker series needs to extend beyond “Joker: Folie à Deux.” In fact, it’s perfectly fine for filmmakers to complete their vision, wrap things up, and move on, instead of stretching a franchise unnecessarily, just for the sake of expansion.

2024-08-21 00:01