Todd Phillips on Joker: Folie à Deux's budget: 'Why do people care?'

In addressing concerns about the budget for 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' director Todd Phillips openly admitted to Variety that the sequel indeed cost more to produce than its predecessor, 'Joker'. However, he firmly pushed back against rumors that the budget ballooned to a staggering $200 million, dismissing such figures as "absurd."

Phillips went further, questioning the public's fixation on the financial aspect of filmmaking. He argued that the money invested in the film wasn't simply disappearing into a black hole, but was being used to employ a large and talented crew, enabling them to earn a living and support their families. In essence, he framed the film's budget as an investment in both creative vision and the livelihoods of those involved in its production.

The director also stressed the importance of originality in an industry often dominated by reboots and remakes. He implied that the additional budget allowed him and his team to craft a truly unique and groundbreaking cinematic experience, pushing the boundaries of what audiences might expect from a comic book-inspired film. Phillips' comments suggest that the higher budget was necessary to realize the ambitious vision for "Joker: Folie à Deux," a film that aims to be more than just another superhero movie.