The sequel to 'Joker' premieres in Venice
When the Film Festival in Venice starts in August, "Joker: Folie a Deux" is once again a true highlight on the schedule. The sequel to the Thriller with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga is having its premiere here. More Hollywood stars are expected.
Last year, the Venice Film Festival lacked glamour as the stars couldn't promote their films due to the actors' union strike. In 2024, it should look different. After Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice 2" with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder as the opening film, the entire program for the festival is now known, running from August 28 to September 7. And the lineup has some star-studded contributions.
"Joker: Folie a Deux" would be one of them. After "Joker" won the Golden Lion in Venice in 2019, the sequel is also in competition at the Lido. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the deranged clown Arthur Fleck. New to the cast is Lady Gaga. The singer plays the music therapist Harleen Quinzel, who meets Fleck in the psychiatry. The pair becomes the Batman adversaries Joker and Harley Quinn. The film is having its premiere.
Queer vs. Challengers
Also in competition is "Queer" by Luca Guadagnino, the "Challengers" director. Daniel Craig plays an American who falls in love with a drug addict in Mexico. A particularly radical attempt by the former James Bond actor to free himself from the shadow of Bond.
In the race for the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie face off. Kidman stars in the erotic thriller "Babygirl" as the powerful CEO of a company who begins an affair with a young intern. Jolie is in the biopic "Maria" as the famous opera singer Maria Callas.
Competition for the two actresses comes from "The Room Next Door" by Pedro Almodóvar. In his first English-language film, Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton appear. Adrien Brody and Joe Alwyn are in "The Brutalist," the new drama by Brady Corbet. Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult play leading roles in "The Order": a thriller by Justin Kurzel.
Hollywood on the Grand Canal
The most spectacular star lineup comes from a film that is not in competition. In "Wolves," George Clooney and Brad Pitt appear together before the camera for the first time in 16 years. In the action comedy from "Spider-Man" director Jon Watts, they play two professional problem solvers who must work together as convinced lone wolves.
Brad Pitt's supposed trip to Venice is particularly intriguing: he could meet his ex-wife Angelina Jolie there, whom he usually avoids outside of court.
In addition to the competition, the German documentary "Riefenstahl" by Andres Veiel is also screening. The late Leni Riefenstahl was best known for the controversial propaganda film about the Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg in 1934 ("Triumph of the Will").
The anticipated premiere of "Joker: Folie a Deux" at the Venice Film Festival is set to bring star power, featuring Joaquin Phoenix and the music therapist played by Lady Gaga. Additionally, movie enthusiasts can look forward to catching Lady Gaga's performance in Venice, as she dives into acting with this highly anticipated sequel.
