[The Joker] didn't need a sequel. But this is Hollywood, and when a film grosses over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, it is only a matter of time before a sequel is made. Naturally, the official name for "Joker 2" is "Joker: Folie à Deux," which is officially known as "Joker: Folie à Deux.

Prior to this week, my expectations for the sequel to the controversial 2019 comic book film were low at best, but after seeing "Joker 2" (sticking with "Joker 2" for brevity) for the first time in a new teaser trailer, I am beginning to feel a bit more optimistic.

Like the recently released first trailer for "Alien: Romulus," the teaser for "Joker 2" reveals little about the film. In fact, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), the Joker, utters only one line of dialogue in the two-and-a-half-minute trailer. Most of the words we hear come from an ominous off-screen voice and newcomer Harleen Quinzel (Lady Gaga).

The teaser trailer, while extremely thin on plot details, serves as a very effective mood-maker, showing Fleck and Quinzel meeting at Arkham State Hospital and even hinting at the film's musical elements. Yes, in case you didn't know, "Joker 2" is a musical and is said to contain up to 15 songs.

"Joker: Folie à Deux" will be released exclusively on October 4, and if this teaser trailer is any indication, it may be as big a hit as its predecessor. For Warner Bros. execs, the budget has ballooned from less than $100 million for the first "Joker" to a rumored $200 million or more.

I am still not entirely in favor of "Joker 2". Until I get a chance to see the film, I doubt my opinion of it being a very unnecessary sequel will change 360 degrees, but after seeing this trailer a few times, consider me in the cautiously optimistic camp.

I am intrigued by the reveal that Harleen Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn) will be a fellow inmate at Arkham Asylum with the Joker. In Harley's classic origin story, she is a psychologist assigned to rehabilitate the Joker, but is corrupted by his influence and falls in love with the clown prince of crime.

However, "Joker 2" seems to abandon this well-told story and adopt a different approach to this beloved character. This is a bold move. Furthermore, the role will feature the superbly talented Gaga, so expect at least one musical number that will have Harley belting out at least one song!

The trailer also hints at some very impressive filmmaking by director Todd Phillips. I love the inventive shots, which is why Nicolas Winding Refn is one of my favorite directors.

Needless to say, this sequel seems to lean heavily on dream sequences, which makes me even more intrigued to see what kind of creativity Phillips can bring to the table when the grounded constraints of the first "Joker" film are much looser.

"Joker 2" may not be the sequel we needed, but the initial skepticism is melting away as the first trailer has helped it move up quite a bit on my 2024 most anticipated movies list. I eagerly await October to see how "Joker 2" turns out.