As a lot as followers craved it, many have been shocked Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker sequel got here to fruition. Titled Joker: Folie à Deux, with a lot shrouded in secrecy, it is anyone’s guess how the plot might go, which isn’t any shock as a result of Phillips stored particulars on the primary movie near the vest. Regardless, some theorize it might work in different villains alongside Joker and Harley Quinn. Nevertheless, as an alternative of worrying about who’s flourishing in Gotham’s despair, a follow-up could possibly be the right place for a Nightwing origin story.
A Nightwing story is on the desk as a result of Bruce Wayne is so younger on this world. Thus, a time-jump to have him as Batman would imply Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck can be method too outdated. Consequently, Dick Grayson as a foil would match, particularly if Phillips works in his cop background. That is occurred in so many Nightwing tales, from the Titans TV present to his super-spy position in Tom King’s books.
That enables Joker 2 to have Dick monitoring down what occurred to Arthur after the primary movie ended with the comic seeking to escape an asylum. However seeing as Joker was about corrupt programs in Gotham, Dick can develop into Nightwing to research locations his badge will not take him, embodying the detective nature of the Dark Knight. As this vigilante, he can even take out the gangs Joker impressed and provides in to the fashion, particularly if he misplaced his dad and mom the evening of the riots.
It might harness parts of Christopher Nolan’s Joker and Titans, the place Dick wished Joker useless because of his shifting ethical compass. And crossing the road would even nod in direction of Jason Todd’s journey as Red Hood. That may check Dick’s view of justice, as he struggles with how oppressive and brutal cops will be, carving out sociopolitical commentary on a deeper degree. And such a route can be extra nuanced than wealthy guys suiting as much as cleanse their conscience within the identify of revenge.
Within the course of, Phillips can chart one thing gritty and elucidate Nightwing’s interior demons like Matt Reeves did together with his Caped Crusader. It’d additionally permit Warner Bros. to skip the campy Robin story for one thing extra grounded, cerebral and in-line with the character of the present Bat-family. And that is not even mentioning that it solves the longstanding challenge the studio has had with getting Chris McKay’s Nightwing off the bottom.
With Joker 2, there isn’t any DC Prolonged Universe continuity to fret about. All that issues is giving Phoenix’s Joker room to be a nuanced villain, which he can do by making an attempt to interrupt the image of legislation enforcement. And in the end, as Nightwing fights off the notion that fireside’s the remedy for society, it may encourage a Batman to affix the campaign.