Joker 2: Lady Gaga stuns in first image as Harley Quinn & fans predict an Oscar nomination.

Washington [US], February 15: Lady Gaga ignites social media with her first glimpse from "Joker: Folie a Deux," which attracted the interest of fans all around the world.

Swati Bhat

Director Todd Phillips has shared a new look from "Joker: Folie a Deux," depicting star Joaquin Phoenix in the arms of Gaga.

In the caption, Phillips wished everyone a happy Valentine's Day. It's the first time the film's creators have seen how Lady Gaga looks. According to Variety, Gaga also uploaded the picture to her own Instagram account.

Gaga is reportedly playing a version of the DC Comics character Harley Quinn, a psychiatrist who finds herself smitten with the Joker before taking on his villainous ways. Margot Robbie had previously portrayed Quinn in the "Suicide Squad" films and "Birds of Prey." Kaley Cuoco voices the character on the ongoing HBO Max animated series "Harley Quinn." Gaga announced that she is going to be a part of "Joker" sequel last August. The film has been described as a musical. Phillips' original "Joker" was a critical and commercial hit in 2019, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was a major competitor at the year's Academy Awards, earning 11 nominations. Phoenix won his oscar for best actor and Hildur Gudnadottir for best original score for 'Joker'. The dramatic success of "Joker" quickly spurred speculation regarding a sequel. Although the landscape of DC media has shifted in the years since the original film, Phillips' project has remained largely untouched by the newly formed DC Studios and its co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The "Joker" sequel will not play a role in the narrative continuity of other upcoming DC films, reported Variety.

Warner Bros. will release "Joker: Folie a Deux" in theatres on October 9, 2024 -- five years to the day after the release of the first film.

#thecommunique #tc #tcn #hollywood #joker #ladygaga

Michael Jackson's nephew all set to star in his biopic 'Michael'

Washington [US], February 01: Jaafar Jackson is all set to play his uncle Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic by Antoine Fuqua.

Pritish Bagdi

According to Variety, the tangled legacy of the guy who became known as the King of Pop will be portrayed in the biopic 'Michael'.

The film will examine every facet of his life, including "including his most iconic performances that led him to become the greatest entertainer of all time." Variety reports that the Michael Jackson estate is collaborating with the movie, which might have an impact on how 'Michael' portrays the numerous accusations of child sexual abuse that were made against Jackson both during his career and after his passing. Jackson had refuted the claims of sexually abusing children, and in 2003, a court ruled him not guilty of the charge. Jackson always maintained his innocence and passed away in 2009 at the age of 50, but the claims continue to cloud his legacy. 'Michael' will be the first major film role for Jaafar Jackson.

Variety reports that Jaafar is the second-youngest son of songwriter, producer and Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson, whose brother was Michael Jackson. "Jaafar embodies my son. It's so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers," the late singer's mother Katherine Jackson told Variety.

Producer Graham King claims that the team conducted a global search before deciding on the actor who would play Jackson. "I met Jaafar over two years ago and was blown away by the way he organically personifies the spirit and personality of Michael," King said. "It was something so powerful that even after conducting a worldwide search, it was clear that he is the only person to take on this role. I am beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson," he added.

#thecommunique #tc #tcn #MichaelJackson #biopic #hollywood

Tarsem Singh set to shoot his first film in India

The much acclaimed and celebrated director, Tarsem Singh is all set to shoot his first film 'Dear Jassi' in India. This is the first feature film that Tarsem will shoot in India.

This is the first feature film that Tarsem will shoot in India.

Based on a true story, the movie has been shot by the celebrated Hollywood cinematographer Brendan Galvin.

The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Wakaoo Films- Vipul D Shah, Ashwin Varde, Rajesh Bahl, Creative Strokes Group (Sanjay Grover) and Tarsem Singh.

It has been scripted by 'Oh My God 2' writer and director Amit Rai. The subject of 'Dear Jassi' has always been close to Tarsem. He shared, "It's my passion project. And I believe this is the right time for the world to see it. Such a strong story needs to be told." The film's crew consists of an eclectic mix of top Indian and international names with the post-production happening in Montreal, Canada. Some of his most notable movies in Hollywood include The Cell (Jennifer Lopez), The Fall (Lee Pace), Immortals (Henry Cavill, Frieda Pinto), Mirror Mirror (Julia Roberts) and Self/Less (Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley). Other than feature films, Tarsem is globally renowned for his award-winning ad films and music videos featuring the world's topmost brands and artists like Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, Deep Forest, R.E.M and Enrique Iglesias amongst others. Tarsem believes it was the correct synergy that made the film possible. "I had a great set of producers partnering with me on this film."

Bhushan Kumar who is immensely happy with the experience said, "This is our first foray into mainstream international cinema and we are thrilled with the experience." Vipul D Shah of Wakaoo Films said, "Tarsem is a maestro and it was indeed magical to watch him weave his magic on set." Ashwin Varde of Wakaoo Films added, "It's an extraordinary subject helmed by an extraordinary director; the world is going to be stunned." Rajesh Bahl of Wakaoo Films said, "Tarsem is a class apart. His passion and dedication to the craft is unparalleled; his vision is spectacular." Sanjay Grover (former Executive & Producer, MGM Studios, LA) of Creative Strokes Group continued , "Having made films at MGM Studios; producing my first film with a director like Tarsem whom I love and to partner with visionary producers like T-Series and Wakaoo Films is truly very exciting." 'Dear Jassi' was shot across Punjab over a span of 50 days and the last schedule of 2 weeks will be shot in Canada very soon.

The film will see a huge worldwide release in mid-2023.

#thecommunique #tc #tcn #TarsemSingh #TSeries #entertainment #hollywood