In the second trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux, director Todd Phillips’ much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 Best Picture Oscar-winning Joker, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck is finding himself in the throes of fame as he endures “the trial of a century” and finds himself a “martyr” to the people of Gotham City.

After murdering Murray Franklin (Robert de Niro) live on television, Arthur Fleck is incarcerated in Arkham State Hospital, where he meets music therapist Lee (Lady Gaga). The two fall madly in love and experience musical madness through their shared delusions, while Fleck’s followers start a movement to free him from Arkham, ultimately giving rise to the Clown Prince of Crime’s criminal empire.

In addition to directing, Phillips also wrote Joker 2 alongside Scott Silver and produces the upcoming film. Harry Lawtey stars as s Harvey Dent, Gotham City’s District Attorney who plans to prosecute Arthur for his crimes. The film also stars Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener. Zazie Beetz will reprise her role from Joker.

The Joker sequel belongs to the DC Elseworlds banner, which explores stories set outside of the shared DC Universe being crafted by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II movie and HBO Max Penguin series, for instance, also under that banner.

The sequel releases to cinemas from October 4th, 2024. Watch the full-length, second trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux below: