For years, Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net has been about two things only – awesome art and the artists that create it. With that in mind, we thought why not take the first week of the month to showcase these awesome artists even more? Welcome to “Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net.” In this column, we are focusing on one artist and the awesome art that they create, whether they be amateur, up and coming, or well established. The goal is to uncover these artists so even more people become familiar with them. We ask these artists a few questions to see their origins, influences, and more. If you are an awesome artist or know someone that should be featured, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.This month we are very pleased to bring you the awesome art of…

Mauricio “El Grimlock” Herrera

Mauricio was born in 1975 in the city of La Serena, in the north of Chile, and has been a passionate professional illustrator since he 19 years old.

He currently lives in Las Vegas, Navada and works as a senior artist and art director in numerous projects, brands and companies around the world, mainly in the area of collectible cards art and tablet games usually in projects related to fantasy and science fiction themes.

JOBLO: What got you started as an artist?
EL GRIMLOCK: Like many, I think it’s a process that starts in childhood. In the early 80s, I grew up surrounded by TV cartoons (no streaming yet, haha, and I didn’t have a VHS). When the broadcast schedule ended, you had to wait until the next day (and sometimes an entire week!!!) to see your favorite series again. I think I began drawing them as a way to keep seeing them during that wait. I eventually started making comics with them, imagining what stories might happen in future episodes, making my own episodes of Transformers or The Real Ghostbusters. My father worked as an accountant and provided me with lots of papers I could use to draw on the back of. I think that’s the origin of my creative activity. My nickname “ElGrimlock” came much later at 29, inspired by my favorite transformer, becoming my public identity globally, to this day.

Who were some of your favorite artists growing up?
I think that before I was 10, I wasn’t really aware of authors’ existence. But my obsession with the series I liked the most grew. At six years old, I saw Mazinger Z for the first time, and it was a revolution. A whole life of watching humorous cartoons with talking animals, and then suddenly a giant robot enters the scene, launching its fists like rockets, and you could also pilot it. Absolutely crazy. Another Japanese show called Ultraman also fascinated me in my early years. Both were giant robots in my mind (I later learned Ultraman was an alien and not a machine). I think all of this paved the way for my fanatical embrace of Transformers G1 in 1984, as if it was a tailor-made suit. I also loved the wave of fantasy movies from the 80s by Jim Henson, like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and The NeverEnding Story, and of course, all the movies with monsters designed by Stan Winston.

Who do you really dig these days, follow on Instagram?
I follow many authors I admire, colleagues and friends, sculptors, voice actors, and cosplayers. Among my favorite painters is Yoshitaka Amano whose work has been one of my favorites at different stages of my life, from Gatchaman in my childhood to Vampire Hunter D in my youth. Today I admire his ability to produce both highly commercial products and more mature, artistic works. Also, many artists drawing fantasy and science fiction, and lately, sites dedicated to sharing photos of collections, figures, or sculptures beautifully painted by talented people. Also, sites dedicated to retro franchises, although I love watching current series too. There’s always a special place in my heart for the giant piloted robots of the 80s.

What advice would you have for budding artists today?
Today is a special time. Many emerging artists fear how the work scene will evolve after the advent of generative AI. I’d tell them to keep investing time and effort into discovering the elements that form their own artistic proposal. The recurring themes in our work create a language to which people respond. I believe artists not only have the ability but the duty to communicate to the future. The valuable things for you: a theme, a way of drawing eyes, expressions, the attitude of our characters, what makes you laugh, get angry, or feel sad. It’s not about debating whether computers will have something to say eventually, but about preventing art from losing substance in the process. Become an expert in your own message and add to the difference in a world hungry for quality. Nobody wants a world covered in a gray mass full of soulless images.

What should we be looking out for from you in the future?
For now, I hope to continue exploring topics that interest me and finding people with similar tastes. Some will be consumer products, and others will be more artistic and personal experiences. I’ll share all these projects on my social media. I’m excited to invite you to my new YouTube channel, where I’ll focus on a unique theme I love: art around dragons. I want to cover the topic of their design and art with tutorials and art processes. I think it’ll appeal to people who enjoy these mythical creatures. For now, I’m enjoying sharing with friends with similar interests and slightly different areas. Haha. So, I’ll keep making art until I know how to build myself a giant robot.

Being a fansite, we have to ask you… What are some of your favorite movies/TV shows of all time?
I love Macross, a world I first knew through the Robotech anime, which accompanied me throughout my life. I’ve watched its series, OVAs, and movies many times. I’m a super fan of Watanabe, director of Macross Plus and Cowboy Bebop, among others. I love Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, Berserk, Record of Lodoss War. For movies, I love the Alien saga, Predator, The Thing, all things related to cosmic horror, and Conan the Barbarian stories, both the Arnold movie and Robert Howard’s pulps. Of course, the Savage Sword comics, Batman comics, especially post-Dark Knight, Vertigo’s publications, Sandman, Death, Hellblazer. Video games have also influenced me greatly: Soul Reaver, Dragon’s Dogma, Monster Hunter, Castlevania SOTN, and more. And sometimes I draw, haha.

Scroll down to check out some of our favorite art pieces from El Grimlock as we continue to follow his journey across his Website and social media hubs: Instagram / X / Facebook / Deviant Art / YouTube / Store

Alienzilla

Batman vs. The Joker

Black Dragon

Blanka

Christmas Carolling

Chucky

Crimson Queen

The Crow and Death

Death Note

Edward Scissorhands

Evil Dead II

Fantasy Art Magazine

Hearthstone

Hellboy

Lobo

Mammoth vs. Dragon

Mazinger Z

Piccolo

Primal

The Punisher

Radiant Black

Spider-Man

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Wolverine

Yoda

The post Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net: Mauricio “El Grimlock” Herrera appeared first on JoBlo.

It looks as though director Todd Phillips has officially finished Joker: Folie a Deux, with the MPAA officially granting it an R-rating for “some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity.” On the latter, it looks like Joker is about to show us the full monty, doesn’t it? At any rate, the R-rating isn’t a surprise, as that’s what the first film got, and I imagine a PG-13 sequel would have landed with a thud, as fans expect this to be as hardcore and uncompromising as the original. 

Here’s the poster:

But, what else do we know about Joker: Folie a Deux? Plenty!

First Images:

Ever since the movie started shooting in December 2022, Phillips has been generous as far as images teasing the look of his Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn go. Here’s a moody early pic of the two together:

The Plot

Joker 2 won’t be out until the fall. So, with the film still so far out, and with the production team wanting to keep the movie under wraps, audiences have been given surprisingly little about what they can expect from the sequel in terms of the plot. The small pieces of information that fans know about are that Harley Quinn will be playing a significant role in the film and that at least part of it will take place in Arkham Asylum.

Another important piece of information about the movie (that will more than likely affect the plot in some way) is that the movie will have musical elements. The choice was reportedly made due to the dancing-related themes incorporated in the first movie (Joker’s dance to Gary Glitter’s “Rock n’ Roll” was acclaimed), combined with the casting choice of Lady Gaga as the infamous Harley Quinn. Gaga’s musical background undoubtedly played a part in choosing to have the film be more musically driven and her experience with acting/creating music made the choice a no-brainer.

The last piece of information regarding the plot is that fans need to remember that this particular movie, as well as its predecessor, are not part of James Gunn’s upcoming DCU and will therefore be under the category of DC Elseworlds – stand-alone projects set in the DC Universe. This isn’t new information as the original Joker was never part of the larger universe that DC attempted and failed to make, but nevertheless, it should still be noted.

Joker: Folie a Deux – The Cast

Joaquin Phoenix gained an Oscar and universal acclaim for his rendition of the Joker so it’s no surprise to anyone that he’ll be returning to play Arthur Fleck/The Joker for the sequel. A notable piece of information to take into account is that thanks to Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance, his payday for the sequel will be $20 million, opposed to the $4 million that he received for the original movie.

However, as discussed earlier, the biggest addition to the sequel in terms of star-power will be Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Despite Margot Robbie playing the character for the past decade in three separate DC projects, Robbie has praised the casting choice of Gaga as Quinn and believes that she’ll do an amazing job with the character, saying:

“I think she’s going to do an amazing job. I’m so excited. All I could have ever hoped for Harley is that she would become one of those characters that, kind of like Batman, or Hamlet, gets handed from actor to actor—everyone gets a go at playing them. So, I feel like it’s just a credit to her as a character that people want to see her in multiple interactions. I’m excited.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Todd Phillips (@toddphillips)

After Lady Gaga, other notable actors/actresses who have been added to the cast are Jacob Lofland, Catherine Keener, and Brendan Gleeson. Lofland is reportedly playing an inmate from Arkham Asylum, and there hasn’t yet been any word on who Keener and Gleeson will be playing. Another new name for the movie is Harry Lawtey (star if HBO’s Industry) who has also been cast in an undisclosed role, however, it’s been reported that his role will be a “big” one for the series.

Another name that audiences will be familiar with is Zazie Beetz who played Sophie in the first Joker film. While it was revealed that her and Arthur’s relationship was completely concocted inside Arthur’s head, her overall fate was never revealed in the film. Also, while nothing has officially been confirmed, Zazie has publicly stated that she believes Sophie is still alive in the series. With all of that being said, fans shouldn’t expect to see Zazie in the upcoming sequel, but it’s a very real possibility.

More images reveal Arkham Asylum

Right around the holidays, Todd Phillips gave fans another sneak peek at Joker: Folie a Deux by posting a pic of Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck in his cell in Arkham Asylum, while the other showed Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Heck them out:

The Release Date:

Warner Bros has Joker: Folie a Deux slated for an October 4, 2024 release date. Chances are, it will follow the original film and have a fall festival premiere (likely in Venice, maybe TIFF too). Of course, that release date puts it right in the awards corridor, with this buzz being that this is WB’s big Oscar movie for the year. Since Phoenix won Best Actor for the first Joker, expect him to get a major Oscar campaign, while Gaga, no doubt, will be a huge contender for Best Actress.

Reaction:

A test screening of the film was recently held, and GoldDerby shared the following reaction: “Parts are chaotic for a reason. Parts are surrealistic also for a reason (and at least in part shot in B&W), parts are bloody (the chaotic part). Can’t spoil how exactly. It’s also very political as you would expect from Joker franchise. The person I spoke with was mighty impressed but caution it’s just on opinion. Gaga is indeed equal to Phoenix or even more central. No way to fraud her in supporting. From what I understood, he doesn’t call her Harley but a nickname derived from it. I guess that has created a confusion whether she plays Harley or not (she does). They both perform songs as a duet and some are just her singing. Songs are mix of old songs and new ones. Old one are sang in one part of movie, new/original ones in another. It isn’t all a singing movie. Famous characters appear in it. Some changes to lore since these movies are standalones from certain other DC franchise. Surrealism would be some scenes (can’t specify which) but not the whole movie (it isn’t all a dream/hallucination type of thing). Gaga’s performance is said to be transformative and sensational.:

Is It a Musical?

Early in its development, it was revealed that Joker: Folie a Deux would be a musical. While some took that to mean that Lady Gaga would be contributing original songs, Variety has specified that the movie will be a jukebox musical.

What’s a jukebox musical?

The term “jukebox musical” refers to a kind of musical where all the songs are pre-existing. Many popular musicals like Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, and Moulin Rouge would be considered jukebox musicals. In the Variety report, it’s revealed that the film will contain roughly fifteen songs, all of them covers. One of them will be the classic “That’s Entertainment” from the old Fred Astaire musical The Band Wagon. Each song is said to have been thoroughly reimagined by the movie’s returning composer, Hildur Guðnadóttir.

What does the title mean?

Folie a Deux (the film’s official title) actually translates to “madness of two” and refers to ‘shared psychosis’ in which “delusion or mental illness is shared by two people in close association”. It can be safely assumed that the title is referring to the relationship that will undoubtedly spread between Joker and Harley Quinn.

How Was It Filmed?

Joker: Folie a Deux was partly shot with IMAX cameras by DP Lawrence Sher.

What’s the Budget?

According to recent reports, the Joker: Folie a Deux budget has blown past $200 million, more than three times what the original film cost ($60 million). Given that the first film made over a billion dollars worldwide, that budget isn’t considered an unsafe bet, with the two stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, getting justifiably juicy paychecks ($20 million and $12 million respectively).

The trailer… and is Harley real?

The full trailer for the film was released online during the CinemaCon event in early April, and it gives us a glimpse of what Joker: Folie a Deux will have in store for us. The trailer shows us Arthur and Harley crossing paths and falling for each other in Arkham Asylum, then escaping into a world of violent acts and musical performances. It looks like a good portion of the movie is going to be taking place within Arthur’s mind… which has left some viewers to wonder if Harley is actually going to be a real person in this movie, or if she’s just a figment of Arthur’s imagination. Check out the trailer in the embed above and see what you think. Is Harley real or not?

Everything Else:

Another piece of information that fans might find interesting is that despite being set in New York City, filming still took place in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, it’s been revealed in set photos that the sequel will return to the infamous “Joker steps” from the first movie. And, despite the movie being a jukebox musical, it’s been said that Gaga may be contributing an original song to the film, which would be a no-brainer as it could follow in the footsteps of A Star Is Born‘s “Shallow” and win her a Best Song Oscar.

So, even though fans won’t get a chance to see how The Joker and Harley Quinn get wrapped up in another crazy villainous adventure for another few months, fans can rest well knowing that the wait will be more than worth it.

The post Joker 2: MPAA Rating, Poster, Trailer, Release Date & Everything Else We Know appeared first on JoBlo.

Update: The full trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux is here!

During the Warner Bros. panel at CinemaCon, Todd Phillips addressed the crowd, saying that the response to 2019’s Joker blew him away. People said the film was “dangerous.” He’s thankful the movie wasn’t scrapped and became a box-office smash.

When he was making the first movie, he and Joaquin always talked about making a sequel, but they didn’t want to jinx it. They talked a lot about the pandemic, and that’s how it was born. But it’s a very different kind of sequel.

Phillips was a producer on A Star Is Born, and he and the writer always wrote this with Lady Gaga in mind. As far as it becoming a musical, Phillips said he never thought of it as one, but he admits music is an essential element. He said he always described Arthur as having music in him, which was also critical to the first film.

The Joker: Folie à Deux trailer depicts Arthur and Harley’s twisted courtship in Arkham Asylum. After realizing they were made for each other, Harley suggests a jailbreak, and the music swells. The couple escapes their confines (or at least that’s what the trailer wants us to think) and wreaks havoc on the Gotham City streets.

Original Article: At long last, the first teaser trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux has been released! The Joker 2 teaser trailer features Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck standing in the rain in the Arkham Asylum exercise yard. As he laughs maniacally, we can only assume he’s thinking about flying the coup and stirring up more mayhem in Gotham City. The full trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux arrives later tonight!

Joker: Folie à Deux has some big clown shoes to fill, especially after the first movie received 11 Academy Award nominations and became the first R-rated flick to gross over $1 billion worldwide. Warner Bros. has pumped a lot of money into the sequel, with recent reports stating the budget has grown to nearly $200 million, quite the leap from the $60 million budget of the first movie.

The sequel does seem to be departing from the original in a major way in that it has some major musical elements. A recent report stated that Joker: Folie à Deux will be “mostly a jukebox musical” as it will include “at least 15 reinterpretations of very well-known songs.” In hindsight, it would have been hard to imagine Joaquin Phoenix returning for more of the same, no matter how many dump trucks full of money they drove to his house.

In addition to Phoenix and Gaga, the film also stars Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey. Zazie Beetz returned to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond from the first movie, a love interest for Arthur. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it’s been said that much of the sequel will take place within Arkham Asylum, which is where we left Arthur in the last film. Joker: Folie à Deux will hit theaters on October 4th. Find out everything we know about the movie right here!

The post The Joker: Folie à Deux trailer finds Arthur and Harley escaping to a world filled with music and violence appeared first on JoBlo.

I hope you’ve saved a few coins for the jukebox because the first Joker: Folie à Deux poster is here to get your toes tapping and your mind spinning in circles on the dancefloor. Warner Bros. Discovery debuted a new poster for Joker: Folie à Deux, featuring Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga‘s Harley cutting a rug while entangled in a firm embrace. The new promo gives Gone With the Wind and Fred Astaire vibes, with a touch of madness for good measure.

April is unofficially Joker month, with the new Joker: Folie à Deux poster boogying into the ballroom and the sequel’s first trailer waltzing online on April 9th. Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux is one of 2024’s most talked about films following the reveal of the film’s “Jukebox Musical” format. According to verified reports, Joker 2 includes at least 15 reinterpretations of “very well-known” songs. One is said to be “That’s Entertainment” from the 1953 musical “The Band Wagon,” famously associated with Judy Garland. The movie could include one or two original songs, but we must wait and see.

The film’s Oscar-winning composer, Hildur Guðnadóttir, says the music in Joker: Folie à Deux will “infuse her distinctive, haunting [music] cues” into each number. News about Joker: Folie à Deux‘s Jukebox Musical elements are shocking to fans of the original, despite the sequel’s musical roots being public knowledge for months.

Aspects of the Joker: Folie à Deux’s plot remains a mystery. Still, we know a portion of the film takes place in Arkham Asylum, a fortified prison masquerading as a hospital for Gotham’s criminally insane population. In the comics, Harley thinks she can crack the Joker’s insane exterior and explore the man beneath the smile. As their destructive relationship blossoms, Harley becomes entranced by the Joker’s charm and worldview. Together, they form an unlikely bond, leading Harley and Joker to escape Arkham Asylum to create a new brand of havoc in Gotham City.

What do you think about the new Joker: Folie à Deux poster? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga trip the light fantastic in the first Joker: Folie à Deux poster appeared first on JoBlo.

When it was revealed that Joker: Folie à Deux would have elements of a musical, fans weren’t quite sure how far the sequel would lean into that aspect. Well, according to Variety, the film will be “mostly a jukebox musical” as it will include “at least 15 reinterpretations of very well-known songs.“

Insiders tell Variety that one of those songs is said to be “That’s Entertainment” from the 1953 musical The Band Wagon. While it seems that most of the songs will be covers of existing tunes, the door is apparently open for the addition of an original song or two. Who would have thought that Joker: Folie à Deux might be joining the likes of musicals such as Mamma Mia and Moulin Rouge?

The report also states that early discussions are underway for Joker: Folie à Deux to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival later this year, but nothing is official yet. The first movie also premiered at the festival, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation and won the Golden Lion award.

Anticipation for the Joker sequel is high, especially after the first movie received 11 Academy Award nominations and became the first R-rated flick to gross over $1 billion worldwide. Warner Bros. has pumped a lot of money into the sequel, with recent reports stating the budget has grown to nearly $200 million; quite the leap from the $60 million budget of the first movie.

Joker: Folie à Deux features the return of Joaquin Phoenix as the title character. He’s joined by Lady Gaga, who is said to be playing Harley Quinn. The rest of the cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey. Zazie Beetz also returned to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond from the first movie, a love interest for Arthur. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it’s been said that much of the sequel will take place within Arkham Asylum, which is where we left Arthur in the last film. Joker: Folie à Deux will hit theaters on October 4th. Find out everything we know about the movie right here!

The post Joker: Folie à Deux will be a “jukebox musical” with at least 15 covers of well-known songs appeared first on JoBlo.

Cake up on some makeup, be ready to dance atop the Highbridge stairs, and smile because early reactions for Joker: Folie à Deux are soft-shoeing their way onto social media. Following a blind screening of Todd Phillips’ hotly-anticipated sequel to 2019’s Joker, entertainment site GoldDerby is spilling the tea about Joker: Folie à Deux!

In a social media post, GoldDerby reveals what it can about Joker: Folie à Deux, including Lady Gaga’s “transformative” performance as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the film’s musical elements, and how Phillips’ forthcoming film toys with DC lore, taking advantage of the Elseworlds aspect of the setup.

I have not modified the original transcription:

“Parts are chaotic for a reason,” GoldDerby posted online. “Parts are surrealistic also for a reason (and at least in part shot in B&W), parts are bloody (the chaotic part). Can’t spoil how exactly. It’s also very political as you would expect from Joker franchise. The person I spoke with was mighty impressed but caution it’s just on opinion.”

The post continues, “Gaga is indeed equal to Phoenix or even more cnetral. No way to fraud her in supporting. from what I understood, he doesn’t call her Harley buyt a nickname derived from it. I guess that has created a confusion whether she plays Harley or not (she does). They both perform sonds as a duel and some are just her singing. Songs are mix of old songs and new ones. Old one are sand in one part of movie, new/original ones in another. It isn’t all a singing movie. Famous characters appear in it. Some changes to lore since these movies are standalones from certain other DC franchise.”

Gold Derby adds, “Surrealism would be some scenes (can’t specify which) but not the whole movie (it isn’t all a dream/hallucination type of thing). Gaga’s performance is said to be transformative and sensational.”

Joker: Folie À Deux screening blinds are dropping and indeed are very interesting to read

(Source: GoldDerby) pic.twitter.com/ZQnniUoskD

— L (fan account) (@live4ga) March 18, 2024

The part that stands out to me the most is when the individual says, “famous characters appear.” Do they mean characters from the first film, like Zazie Beetz’s Sophie Dumond, or flashbacks to Robert De Niro’s Murray Franklin? Does Joker: Folie à Deux include more known DC characters than Joker and Harley? Could we be in for some surprises when Joker: Folie à Deux waltzes into theaters on October 4, 2024?

Other reactions to the film are making the rounds, with audience members praising Lady Gaga’s electrifying performance and mentioning the film’s altering of classic song lyrics to fit the movie. Reactions to the film could be monumentally unhinged between the project’s musical roots, political leanings, and prioritizing Harley over Arthur. I say, bring it on!

The post Early reactions to Joker: Folie à Deux tease a chaotic and surreal musical with Lady Gaga delivering a transformative performance appeared first on JoBlo.

Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck is about to laugh all the way to the bank as reports about the budget for Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux are accurate. In a new article from Variety, the outlet says the budget for Joker 2 is a staggering $200 million! In contrast, the original film’s budget was $60 million. Small in scope and execution, Joker kept its story street-level, focusing on the increasing madness of Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and his influential rise in Gotham City. Phillips’ Joker 2 is a musical, which I would assume calls for elaborate sets, fancy costumes, and immense musical numbers with choreography to compliment the carnage.

Variety’s report says Phoenix is getting $20 million to reprise his role as the struggling comedian turned psychopath. At the same time, Lady Gaga, who plays Dr. Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn) in the film, will sing her heart out for $12 million. Joker: Folie à Deux’s musical roots paint a confusing picture for Joker fans. Is Phillips’ film a song-and-dance feature with ultra-violence and questionable relationship goals? Surely, Phillips knows musicals are typically box office kryptonite, and it’s unlikely that Joker fans are anticipating a villain who croons his way through the sequel. If this concept sounds like a gamble, that’s because it is. Then again, maybe Joker 2 will break the curse.

Aspects of the Joker 2 plot remain a mystery. Still, we know a portion of the film takes place in Arkham Asylum, a fortified prison masquerading as a hospital for Gotham’s criminally insane population. In the comics, Dr. Harleen Quinzel thinks she can crack the Joker’s insane exterior and explore the man beneath the smile. As their sessions continue, Harley becomes entranced by the Joker’s charm and worldview. Together, they form an unlikely bond, leading Quinzel and Joker to escape Arkham Asylum to create a new brand of havoc in Gotham City.

Other stars attached to Joker: Folie à Deux include Brendan Gleeson, Cathrine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Zazie Beetz, who reprises her role as Sophie Dumond from the original film.

What do you think of Joker 2 getting a budget of $200 million? What are they spending all that money on? What will you do if Joker: Folie à Deux is an all-out musical? Will you still be on board or riot online like Arthur’s followers on the lawless Gotham streets? Let us know in the comments below. 

The post A new report states Joker 2 budget is over $200 million appeared first on JoBlo.

Warner Brothers has been undergoing some restructuring since it was merged with Discovery. This has caused some uproar in their release schedules and even caused some films to be shelved altogether. Just when things seemed to stabilize, two industry strikes again caused chaos across the board. So, what can we look forward to for the Warner Brothers 2024 release schedule?

Dune Part Two – March 15th

The second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune saga hits theaters. The first one fought against a Covid release but still earned a respectable amount at the box office. Fans of the property seem excited to check out this one, so it should be a decent hit. If the box office is sizable enough for the WB, then a third film will be on the way, as the director has commented that he has already started writing it based on Frank Herbert’s novel Dune Messiah.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – April 12th

A sequel to the Monsterverse film Godzilla vs. Kong. This could be a tough one. With the recent release of Godzilla Minus One, this could be the exact opposite of what fans seem to want from a Godzilla movie at the moment. While fans seem to have been enjoying what Warner Brothers and Legendary have been doing with the films, there have been complaints that it focuses on too many of the human characters. With Godzilla Minus One, we now see that maybe they just wanted a good story. The trailer for this seems to show that this film will do the more hokey action movie version of the monster. Kong even has a cybernetic arm or armor in this one. It honestly could go either way.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – May 22nd

George Miller once again returns to the world of Mad Max. This time though, we focus on Furiosa, whom we met in the last film. This prequel looks to be just as dazzling and adrenaline-inducing as the last film. The only question is if it is coming out too far away from the last film. Will audiences still care about the character? Fury Road came out nine years ago, and nowadays, that is a long time between films in a franchise. I’ll still be there opening night.

The Watchers – June 7th

Ishana Shyamalan has a very famous father, so eyes may end up turning to this film to see if the directing gene is hereditary. She makes her debut with this fantastical story of a woman who gets lost in a forest in Ireland only to end up finding shelter. Three other strangers are already there, and they can’t seem to leave due to the mysterious creatures stalking them at night. Dakota Fanning and Georgina Campbell lead the cast. Sounds like a fun story, so hopefully, it will find an audience in the summer season.

Trap – August 2nd

This year we’re getting triple the Shyamalan as M. Night Shyamalan has this new film coming out just a few months after his daughter’s. Then his other daughter Saleka will be in this film. Not much is known about the plot, but it is supposed to take place at a concert. The cast is filled out with Josh Harnett and Hayley Mills which was a name I did not expect to see. For younger fans, she played twins in the original Parent Trap, released back in 1961. She has been doing more work recently, and it is interesting to see her cast in a Shyamalan film. Is his name still enough to draw fans out to the theater? I guess we’ll find out.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice – September 6th

Michael Keaton is putting the striped suit back on for this sequel that has taken decades to finally happen. Tim Burton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara also return as their original characters. The likes of Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, and Jenna Ortega join the afterlife to fill out the rest of the cast. We’re still waiting on a trailer or even just a plot description, but in reality, this film will at least make a lot of money opening weekend. How it goes after that, we’ll have to wait and see. Hopefully, the wait was worth it. This is probably the most anticipated film on the Warner Brothers 2024 release schedule.

Joker: Folie A Deux – October 4th

This will be the first DC film released under the new DC Elseworlds banner that will set apart individual films that don’t play into the continuity of what will be considered the DCU. Joaquin Phoenix returns as the titular character, while Lady Gaga joins the cast as this world’s Harley Quinn. With the character being so popular after Margot Robbie played her, it will be interesting to see if fans are okay with multiple actors playing the same character. While we’ve had lots of actors play Batman and Superman, Harley Quinn has only had one on-screen portrayal so far. The fact that this film is also a musical should make it an interesting stand-out among comic book films.

Alto Knights – November 15th

Any time Robert De Niro enters a film about Italian mobsters, filmgoers immediately are interested. This time, he’s playing two roles with Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. Based on a true story, Costello was a retired mob boss, but Genovese still put a hit out on him. Set in 1957, this seems like a movie right in De Niro’s wheelhouse. Can he pull off playing two roles? That is what could end up sinking it. Even still, the prospect of this film has me intrigued enough to check it out.

Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim – December 13th

This animated prequel will be set 183 years before the events of the original trilogy of films. Not sure if fans are clamoring for more Lord Of The Rings content after so-so reviews of The Rings Of Power, but here we are. As a two-hour movie, it may bring more fans in, especially fans of the original films. This will tell the story behind Helm’s Deep, which is a fascinating location for most Rings followers. The only cast member from the originals to return is Miranda Otto as Eowyn, but with Brian Cox on board as Helm Hammerhand it at least will have some gravitas to it.

What films are you looking forward to from Warner Brothers 2024 release schedule? Let us know in the comments.

The post Warner Brothers 2024 Release Schedule appeared first on JoBlo.

With the new year upon us it is time we ask what movie (tentatively) releasing in 2024 is the one you are looking forward to seeing the most? The strikes took their toll on some of the movies that were meant for this year but we still have a lot to look forward to.

Whether you are wondering how they are going to make a musical sequel with Joker: Folie à Deux or how Deadpool will fit into the MCU or if Beetlejuice 2 and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F can be the rare decades later sequels that actually work?! There really is a lot to look forward to this year, and not just sequels either, we have some solid looking original films such as the re-teaming of Brad Pitt and George Clooney in the Jon Watts directed Wolfs along with the gangster film Alto Knights that brings back together Director Barry Levinson and star Robert DeNiro for their fourth film together. And if all goes according to plan, the first new film from Francis Ford Coppola in over 13 years as his decades in the making passion project Megalopolis is slated to release this year.

Last year you chose John Wick: Chapter 4 as your most anticipated movie with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One landing spots 2 and 3. 2023’s highest grossing film, Barbie, didn’t even crack the top 20, grabbing just 12 votes!

If you don’t see your most anticipated listed, click the “Other” button and let us know in the comments.

The post Poll: Most Anticipated Movie of 2024 appeared first on JoBlo.

In the eyes of many, Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, The Suicide Squad) is the defacto actress to play Harley Quinn on the silver screen. However, titans of talent, the likes of Arleen Sorkin, Tara Strong, Kaley Cuoco, Mia Sara, Melissa Rauch, Kang-Ji-young, Gillian Jacobs, and more, have all helped make Dr. Harleen Quinzel a beloved and lasting part of pop culture. While some would prefer Robbie to continue playing Harleen Quinn until the end of time, the Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey actress says she loves the idea of different actresses portraying the former Arkham Asylum psychologist-turned-criminal mastermind.

Speaking with Variety about the character’s future, including Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harleen for Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, Robbie says it’s a dream come true to see the character move beyond her contribution.

“I always wanted Harley to be a character that would get passed on to other actresses to play, the way there are so many iconic male characters,” Robbie told Variety. “That was always the dream for her.”

Robbie says part of Harley’s appeal is how she transforms with each interpretation. No two Harleys are the same, giving the character versatility and a sense of surprise not typically offered by comic book villains.

“Harley’s so fun and can go in so many different directions,” Robbie says. “You put her in someone else’s hands, and it’s like, “What are they going to do with her?” The options are endless.”

During the Christmas break, Todd Phillips shared new looks at Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga for Joker: Folie à Deux on Instagram. The image featuring the two characters together shows Gaga in a conservative blue dress with a floral print and a sloping white collar. I suspect the shot takes play before Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s transformation into Harley Quinn. Once the change happens, Gaga paints the town blood red alongside Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck for an unconventional sequel to Phillips’ 2019 thriller.

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Thanks to DC’s Elseworlds initiative, Robbie and Gaga’s Harleys can co-exist in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU continuity. Pulling double duty presents fans with two separate versions of the character, each with their own motivations. As a fan of the character since her introduction, I’m 100% in agreement with Ms. Robbie.

Are you excited about Harley existing in multiple forms throughout the DCU? Will Gaga’s interpretation of Harley be darker and more deadly than Robbie’s? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The post Margot Robbie thinks other actresses playing Harley Quinn will only help secure the character’s legacy appeared first on JoBlo.