Director Todd Phillips revealed that the trailer for “Joker 2” will be released on this date

The much-anticipated sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker is likely to hit theaters this year, and fans are eagerly awaiting their first look at the film. The film, titled “Joker: Pas de Deux,” stars Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the iconic Batman villain, and Lady Gaga adds to the excitement.

While fans were hoping to see a trailer soon, Phillips recently confirmed they’ll have to wait a little longer. In response to inquiries on social media, Phillips said the first trailer for “Joker: Pas de Deux” won’t be released until mid-April, with the film itself scheduled for release in October.

To tide fans over, Phillips shared a new image from the movie on Valentine’s Day, showcasing Phoenix’s Joker and Gaga’s character Harley Quinn. These images hint at a complex and possibly romantic relationship between the two characters.

One of the images, captioned “Hope your day is filled with love,” shows Phoenix’s Joker wearing a traditional burgundy suit and clown makeup, standing next to Gaga’s Harley Quinn, who Wearing a floral top and bold blue eye makeup. Another black-and-white photo depicts the two characters rubbing noses, with Phoenix’s character appearing to be in jail. The third photo is a wider black-and-white shot of the two dancing on a Gotham City rooftop, with Phoenix in a black tuxedo and Gaga in a long white wedding dress.

The title of the Joker sequel, “Folie à Deux,” is a psychiatric term that describes a situation in which two or more people share delusions. While fans are expecting a psychological thriller from Todd Phillips, there are hints that the film will also explore the musical love story between Arthur Fleck and Dr. Harleen Quinzel.

In the sequel, Lady Gaga’s Dr. Quinzel is charged with treating Fleck, but her professional curiosity about Fleck’s nihilistic personality slowly turns into an unhealthy obsession. Mental health and illness remain prominent themes in the sequel, although the first film was criticized for its treatment of these themes.

Lady Gaga’s return to the role of Harley Quinn marks another take on the beloved DC Comics character, following Margot Robbie’s performance in the first three films. Robbie expressed her joy to passing the torch to Gaga to ComicBook, comparing the role to iconic characters like Batman or Macbeth, who are often played by different actors over time. Robbie sees this as Harley Quinn’s chance to join the ranks of these timeless characters.

Brendan Gleeson, Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener and Jacob Lofland are also part of the cast of the upcoming Joker sequel.