Whoever saidsuperhero fatigue is taking holdof the industry is only partly right because there’s a lot to look forward to on the horizon. For one, there’s James Gunn’s entire DC reboot.Invinciblehas returned, and pretty soon, we’ll be getting the return of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. But before that happens, Todd Phillips will bring his interpretation of the Joker back for another round.Joker: Folie à Deuxwill carry on the story of Arther Fleck from the 2019 film, but this time, his clown princess, Harley Quinn, will join him. Also, in a surprising change of pace, this sequel will featuremany musical elements.
It will no doubt be a sad, hauntingly twisted affair. The last film was. But believe it or not, this isn’t DC’s first musical. The last one was on the small screen in CW’sThe Flashin Season 3, Episode 19, titled “Duet.” The episode was a fun crossover with characters from the channel’s other DC properties and some amazing musical work that will no doubt be made to look like a sunny day compared to the newJoker. Before the new film hits theaters, let’s look back on this fun romp.
What Was The Flash’s Musical Episode?
Those who have watchedThe Flashknow that most episodes follow some goon or crook spreading havoc. In this case, it’s a musically inclined villain known as the Music Meister (an actualcharacter from the comics). He traps Barry and Kara in a bizarre dream world where everyone spontaneously breaks out in song, and the side characters resemble people they know in the real world.
And for whatever reason, this world is set in the 1940s with singing gangsters and star-crossed lovers in a two-dimensional story. They’ll have to play along if they want to escape.The Flashepisode uses a unique framing device that shows how unrealistically the plot will move from song to song, with super friends Barry and Kara even pointing this out tongue-in-cheek, occasionally remarking how much easier things are in musicals.
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The villain is played by none other thanGlee’sDaren Criss, one of the more talented powerhouses of the series. He serves as one ofThe Flash’smore underrated villains, but his performance wouldn’t be as fun without the reunion with fellowGleealumnus Melissa Benoist and Grant Gustin. By placing the two heroes in his fantasy world, the Meister can use their powers to rob banks, but as expected, he is eventually apprehended by the other heroes of S.T.A.R. Labs. However, the whimsical trickster’s real motives were to get the two to realize their love, apparently. It’s a little hokey, sure. But it leads to the episode ending in a stellar original number, seeing Barry and Iris reaffirm their love for one another.
The Music and the Talent Behind The Flash’s ‘Duet’ Episode
As fun of an episode as “Duet” may be, the CW would not have been able to pull it off without the musical talents of its cast. There have beenmusical episodes of non-musical showsin the past (ScrubsandBuffy the Vampire Slayer), but where they differ from this DC original is thatThe Flashhad incredible chops and music writers on their side, as opposed to fully autotuning actors to make them appear able to sing.
While onGlee, Gustin’s character Sabastian Smythe played Blain Anderson’s (Darren Criss) villainous replacement as head of The Warblers, whereas this time around, Criss gets his revenge by trapping Gustin as Barry in an alternate reality. Meanwhile, Melissa Benoist played Marley Rose ofGlee’sNew Directions, having been introduced in the series' fourth season. Kara and Barry comprise the central duo for the episode, but othersacross the Arrowverseplay a part as well.
Stage legends Jesse L. Martin (Joe West,The Flash), Victor Garver (Martin Stein,Legends of Tomorrow), and John Barrowman (Malcolm Merlin,Arrow) also guest star to provide their heavyweight vocal prowess, thanks to the writers of the show getting their pick of the expanded Arrowverse to create the perfect musical dream team. It’s also worth mentioning that the series manages to avoid the too-common habit of involving the less musically inclined cast members from joining in by having them contribute in other ways, either sitting on the sidelines or finding ways to contribute to the plot.
Regarding the music, the episode only has two original songs placed as needed for the plot, while the rest are covers. When we first enter the dream world, Barry finds Kara doing a soothing rendition of “Moon River,” as once sung by film legend Aubrey Hepburn in the classicBreakfast at Tiffany’s. They both carry “Duet’s” musical performances for most of the episode, with their first original song being “Super Friend” in a pitch-perfect and fun performance that also boasts some great dancing, most notably that of Gustin’s soft shoe.
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Benj Pasek and Justin Paul penned both original songs, with the last being a powerful ballad from Barry to Iris at the end of the episode after he and Kara escape the Meistro’s dream world. Still in the musical spirit, Barry croons out another marriage proposal for his long-time love in the justly named “Runnin’ Home to You.”
Pasek and Paul were the perfect composers for the two songs as they also come from a stage background. Their credits includeDear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman, and the Academy Award-winningLa La Land. In preparation for “Duet,” the duo was asked to compose a song that captures Barry’s sentiment in the marriage proposal, and whatever fans may have thought of the song, it was a great bow to an already fun episode. It may have been cheesy, but it fit the ever-romantic Barry like a glove.
Joker 2 and Transitioning to a Musical-Like Movie
The Flash’s “Duet” episode was a great addition to an already diverse show and a fun watch that fans can revisit for years, but it’s unlikely that the upcoming Todd Phillips sequelJoker 2will be so light-hearted. There are two key similarities between the two. The first is that they are both DC properties. The second is they are both jukebox musicals, with the bulk of the track listing being covers. Other than these facts, the plot remains a mystery.
While not much is known, recentreports claim that at least 15 songsinJoker 2will be renditions of well-known songs, one being “That’s Entertainment” from the hit 1953 musicalThe Band Wagon, which starred Broadway icon Judy Garland. However, that doesn’t close the door onJoker 2having original numbers.
It’s also unknown who will be singing in the movie, aside from Lady Gaga. The pop icon is a 13-time Grammy winner who transitioned to Hollywood in the past decade. Her lead debut was in the smash-hitA Star is Born, in which she played a rising singer married to a troubled music star played by Bradley Cooper. It’s also a safe bet that Joaquin Phoenix will be singing.After all,he was nominated for playing Johnny Cash inWalk the Line.
Joker 2is described as a drama with elementstaken from Arkham Asylum, the iconic loony bin from theBatmancomics. The cast will also include the returning Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich), and Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin). The film is undoubtedly a shoo-in to kill at the box office, but it’s a risk in itself for diverting from a straight drama to a musical.
That does not meanJoker 2won’t be successful, though. Jukebox musicals tend to be highly successful, with examples beingMamma MiaandMoulin Rouge!, the latter of which was nominated for eight Oscars. And if nothing else, we can expect an outstanding performance from the two leads, both of whom are Oscar winners, and, above all else, some great musical performances.The Flashis streaming now on Netflix, whileJoker 2is heading to theaters on Jun 17, 2025.
