Joaquin Phoenix to receive $20 million salary for Joker 2: report

According to Variety, renowned actor Joaquin Phoenix will be paid $20 million to star again in Joker 2. This is a huge increase compared to the first film in 2019, when Phoenix was paid $4.5 million.

The sequel has yet to start filming, and little is known about the film's plot. In June, new details about Joker: Folie à deux emerged, suggesting the film will most likely be a musical, starring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn and Joaquin Phoenix returning as the Joker. As of June, Gaga was in "early negotiations" to star in Joker 2, but no deal had been reached. However, Warner Bros. and Gaga's team were reportedly "advanced" in negotiations. If a deal materializes, Gaga would play a new version of Quinn, different from Margot Robbie's portrayal of the character.

Joker 2 will once again be written and directed by Todd Phillips, who also directed 2018's A Star is Born, starring Gaga and Bradley Cooper (who also produced Joker). The report has no information about a new musical angle for Joker 2.

Phoenix won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Arthur Fleck/The Joker in Joker, while Hildur Gudnadottir also won the Best Music Oscar for the film. The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, among other awards.