‘Joker’ FAQ: Is DC Movie A Sequel? Will ‘Birds Of Prey’ Crossover?

“Joker” hits theaters Friday, but it isn’t the typical superhero movie. Some viewers are asking some questions about it.

Is “Joker” Connected To “Birds Of Prey”? This week’s new “Birds of Prey” trailer features Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn throwing a knife at a portrait of Joker. However, it isn’t Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. The new “Joker” movie isn’t connected to “Birds of Prey.” In fact, it isn’t connected to anything at all.

Unlike most superhero movies, “Joker” isn’t a sequel. “Joker” is a standalone movie. While Warner Bros. has a sprawling interconnected DC Comics franchise, the DCEU, this isn’t a part of it.

Will “Joker” Get A Sequel? It sounds like this is a one-and-done situation. At a Los Angeles screening, director Todd Phillips said a quote about a sequel was taken out of context. “The quote was, ‘I will do anything Joaquin wants to do.’ And I would. But the movie’s not set up to [have] a sequel. We always pitched it as one movie, and that’s it,” he said (via IGN).

“It’s not about world-building, it’s not about other versions. It’s like, here’s our version of the origin story. That’s it. That’s what I meant.”

Is “Joker” A Batman Movie? No, this is solely about the Joker’s origins, but that doesn’t mean Bruce Wayne doesn’t show up. A pre-Batman Bruce will appear and his father, Thomas Wayne, is alive and well. Thomas is running for mayor.

Is “Joker” Rated R? Yes. According to the MPAA, the movie is “rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images.”

Should Kids See “Joker”? If the R rating wasn’t enough to answer that question, Warner Bros.’ marketing tactics should. The company has specifically avoided making toys based on the flick, according to the Hollywood Reporter. They also released it in the fall to make it clear that this isn't the usual comic book movie.

Is “Joker” Good? Well, that’s up to each viewer to decide, but the critics seem divided. Though it has a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews seem to show strong feelings in both directions. Some think it’s Oscar-worthy, but others think it was completely unnecessary to make the film.

Is “Joker” Out Yet? “Joker” releases in theaters Friday, Oct. 3.