The last movie we focused on was Pattinson’s turn as the titular character in the 2015 movie, Joker. In this film, he played a character who is literally defined by his lack of fear, and who uses that as a tool for the most part to do what he wants. With the recent passing of Robin Williams, many people are wondering if this was in fact the last movie we’ll see from the actor. And while it’s a bit early to tell with the year barely started, it’s an interesting time to take a look at the state of his acting career since Joker was such a massive success. Could this in fact be his final movie role? We’ll delve into that below.
More Than Meets The Eye
While fans of Joker may have expected the actor to play the same character in all follow-ups, this isn’t the case. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. After stepping away from the spotlight for a bit to focus on his personal life, the English actor is back with a vengeance, playing a different character in almost every installment. So while we’re certainly going to see more of Robin Williams’ goofy yet wonderful character in upcoming films, it won’t be the same as the old days when he was playing the same character over and over again. This is a bit of a bummer for diehard fans who have been eagerly anticipating a sequel to Joker since the first movie came out in 2019.
Pattinson Joins The Club
While discussing the possibility of a sequel to Joker, director Todd Phillips stated, “We’re not ruling it out, but it’s very unlikely, to be honest. I think it’s a combination of factors. First off, I don’t think Warner Brothers particularly cares for the character as much as we do. So if we pitched a sequel and they said ‘no,’ I think it would be the end of it.”
This may be true, but it doesn’t mean that we won’t see a sequel to one of the most popular films in recent memory. Coming off the massive success of Joker, it’s no surprise that the studio has green-lit at least one more movie starring the actor. In fact, there’s been so much buzz about a potential sequel that Warner Brothers even had to issue a correction to earlier reports that they had officially cast Robert Pattinson in a lead role. While they did confirm that he’d auditioned for one of their upcoming films, they denied that he had been given the role (which would mean he’d be playing the same character he played in Joker). Not to mention that other actors were also interested in the part, so chances are there’ll be another installment in the franchise, even if it’s not directed by Phillips.
Joker 2 Is Different Than The First One
One of the biggest criticisms that fans had of the original Joker was that it was too short. While there was some overlap with the first movie, it focused more on the set-up of the character and didn’t delve into much of what made him tick. This was somewhat of a controversial move, considering the first movie ended with the titular character’s death. Many were very frustrated that they didn’t get the opportunity to see more of his backstory or learn more about his character. After all, it’s not often that we get to see an iconic character develop over the course of a movie.
While some fans may have wished for a longer version of Joker, director Todd Phillips had a more practical reason for keeping the runtime under three hours. He wanted to make sure that people could leave the theater feeling like they’d gotten their money’s worth. People often go into movies wanting to see stories with a clear narrative and interesting characters, and not wanting to spend too much time thinking about the plot. Keeping the runtime short and sweet lets him focus on developing the characters without needing to worry about padding the story with extraneous scenes.
One Last Laugh
Even though Williams’ character didn’t talk much in Joker, his deadpan humor may have been the character’s defining trait. And just like that, one of the last great acts of the legendary comedian was featured in a scene that will live on in infamy. While most of us were chuckling through the Joker’s quirky one-liners, Williams was able to inject some much-needed humor into the proceedings. As a result, some of the funniest moments in recent memory come from his portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime.
With the world now more aware of the tragic loss of Williams, who was renowned for his improv skills, it’s never been more appropriate to bring his brilliant comedic performance to the big screen one last time. While a one-off sequel featuring Williams may not sound like something that would thrill hardcore fans, it’s important to remember that he will always be associated with the wacky, yet brilliant, Joker character that he helped define. In hindsight, it may have been better if the sequel were to be titled “The Adventures of Joker,” since this is essentially what it is. A comedy-adventure starring an iconic character that we lost too soon.
Coming off the huge success of Joker, it would be a shame for Robert Pattinson and Warner Brothers to squander the popular character just to cash in on the hype. But in a time of need, perhaps they’ll see sense and realize that keeping the spotlight off of the actor would be the best way to honor the memory of their dear departed friend.