### "Joker: Folie à Deux" Falters with DC Fans, Plagued by Production Tension

Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix charmed fans outside the TCL Chinese Theatre on September 30th at the premiere of "Joker: Folie à Deux," but behind the scenes, the film is marred by controversies and a poor performance at the box office. Despite the glittery red carpet event and CEO David Zaslav's appearance at the after-party, the absence of DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran at such a high-profile event highlights deeper issues.

"Joker: Folie à Deux," directed by Todd Phillips, was notably distanced from DC's influence throughout its production. Phillips managed to bypass DC Studios' oversight, a carve-out that led to friction with the newly installed DC chiefs. Even as Gunn publicly showed support for the film, Phillips maintained a break from DC's branding. This was most evident when the movie, lacking the DC Studios logo, made its debut.

The film's opening weekend drew a disappointing $37.7 million domestically, a stark contrast to the billion-dollar success of the original 2019 "Joker," which had cost merely $60 million to produce. The $200 million sequel, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing, failed to resonate with the core DC fan base. Critics and fans alike noted the film’s divergence from expected norms, a sentiment echoed by reviews such as Rolling Stone's blunt assessment: "'Joker: Folie à Deux' Has a Message for Fans: Go F-ck Yourselves."

Budgetary and logistical disagreements further complicated the production. Warner Bros. executives, including Zaslav, had multiple discussions with Phillips about potential cost-saving measures, such as filming in London. However, Phillips insisted on shooting in Los Angeles, and the budget remained unaltered. Despite Warner Bros.' reservations about debuting the film at the Venice Film Festival, Phillips prevailed.

With production costs soaring, including hefty paychecks for Phoenix, Phillips, and Gaga, the film needed to make at least $450 million to break even. This target now seems out of reach, exacerbating Warner Bros.' financial predicaments following a series of box office disappointments. Wall Street analysts have described the timing of this financial blow as particularly dire for Warner Bros., noting the negative impact on the company’s stock price.

Bradley Cooper's absence as a producer, following his split with Phillips in 2021, may have also influenced the film’s direction. Cooper, known for his commercial sensibilities, played a significant role in the success of the 2019 "Joker." According to insiders, attempts to navigate Phillips towards more fan-aligned decisions were largely unsuccessful.

This sequel was anticipated to be a safe bet given the massive success of its predecessor. Instead, it deviated significantly from fan expectations and failed to align with the broader DC strategy envisioned by Warner Bros.' new leadership. The fallout has not only resulted in financial loss but also inflicted damage on the DC brand.

In the wake of this disappointing result, Warner Bros. faces a challenging road ahead, balancing critical fan base expectations while attempting to recover financially. The ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to established brand guidelines and understanding fan sentiment when producing content within a storied franchise like DC.