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Joker is hump-dancing his way back into theaters next month with the Todd Phillips-directed, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga-starring Joker: Folie à Deux. But before the DC Elseworlds sequel comes to the US, it's premiering at the Venice Film Festival, where an assembly of press asked director Phillips if he'd ever make another movie set in his version of Gotham City. His response is as follows:

"As far as continuing in this space, as a filmmaker, probably not," says Phillips, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, "but for me, it’s hard to even say 'not.' [...] Everything I do is dictated on actors. What actor could I work with? Who am I dying to work with and could I build something around that person. Clearly, these films have been built around, Joaquin, then we introduced Gaga. So I can’t really say yes or no, but it’s not necessarily my goal to stay in this space."

It's the standard 'not no' answer you get whenever asking a franchise director about the possibility of a sequel, but it does raise the question - which actors would get Phillips to return to his gritty, Scorcese-inspired Gotham City? And perhaps even more interesting than that - which DC character would they be interested in playing?

There's Hollywood incentive for answers to both of those questions; playing a Gotham City villain is, after all, a prestige gig these days. Two Joker actors (and counting) are Oscar winners, and HBO's The Penguin is already receiving praise for its Oscar-nominated lead in Colin Farrell. 

I guess what we're saying is that, if Phillips needs a Gotham City character to build a new movie around, his options are plenty. So too, we'd bet, are his options for willing actors.

Joker: Folie à Deux hits theaters October 4.

Enjoy our guides to how to watch the recent DCEU, the Arrowverse, and James Gunn's upcoming DCU.