Five years after the success of 'Joker' at the Venice Film Festival, director Todd Phillips is set to premiere the highly anticipated sequel, 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' in competition with 20 other titles. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
The festival's 81st edition lineup was revealed, featuring a star-studded cast including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, and Jude Law. Among the films competing alongside 'Joker 2' are 'Maria' starring Jolie, 'I'm Still Here' by Walter Salles, 'Babygirl' with Kidman and Harris Dickinson, 'Queer' by Luca Guadagnino, and Pedro Almodóvar’s 'The Room Next Door' with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton.
Notable out-of-competition films include 'Wolfs' reuniting Pitt and Clooney, 'The Brutalist' with Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, and 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' by Peter Weir, in conjunction with his lifetime achievement award.
Alfonso Cuarón’s psychological thriller series 'Disclaimer' will premiere at the festival, starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. The nonfiction lineup features documentaries like 'Separated' by Errol Morris and 'Russians at War' by Anastasia Trofimova.
With last year's festival impacted by an actors' strike, this year promises a return to star-studded glamour. The festival's influence on the awards season remains strong, with several past premieres receiving Oscar nominations and wins.
The 81st Venice Film Festival will commence on August 28 with the world premiere of Tim Burton’s 'Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,' featuring the main cast, including Michael Keaton, on the red carpet. The festival will run through September 7, marking the beginning of a busy fall film festival season.
