The “Joker” sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” is coming to theaters in 2024, and the stars and director are reportedly getting big paydays for the movie.
According to Variety, Star Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips are each making $20 million for the movie. Variety reported that Lady Gaga, who is a new addition to the cast for the sequel, is set to make $10 million.
Phoenix’s salary is significantly more than it was for the first movie. He was paid $4.5 million for that movie, which was released in 2019, Variety reported at the time. And its production budget was $55 million — a modest sum compared to big-budget comic book movies that typically push $200 million or more.
But “Joker” was a huge hit, earning over $1 billion at the global box office and nabbing 11 Oscar nominations (including a best-actor win for Phoenix), which would demand higher salaries for Phoenix and Phillips.
Factoring in their salaries and the added star power of Lady Gaga, the costs for the “Joker” sequel could be higher than the first movie. But Warner Bros. is likely anticipating more box-office success.