The ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ cast and crew recently spoke with Empire for a cover story. Director Todd Phillips and Lady Gaga discussed the creative process behind Harley Quinn during the interview. Phillips shared:
“While there are some things that people would find familiar in her, it’s really Gaga’s own interpretation, and Scott [Silver, co-writer] and my interpretation.”
He explained:
“She became the way [Charles] Manson had girls that idolized him. The way that sometimes these [imprisoned murderers] have people that look up to them. There are things about Harley in the movie that were taken from the comic books, but we took it and molded it to the way we wanted it to be.”
Gaga’s Harley Is ‘Brand New’
The first trailer suggested a shift in Harley and Joker’s relationship, showing Harley as the one influencing the Batman villain this time. Gaga shared about her version of the character during an interview with Access Hollywood in May:
“You know, my version of Harley is mine and it’s very authentic to this movie and these characters. I’ve never done anything like I’ve done in this movie before, so it’s all going to be completely brand new and really fun.”
Lady Gaga joined Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey in the new DC film. She previously played the lead roles in ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘House of Gucci.’
The Director Chose The Singer Himself
Casting director Francine Maisler previously said Todd Phillips specially chose Gaga to play Harley Quinn and described the singer’s performance as ‘really good.’ Her words at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival read:
“I saw it and I was really surprised. I mean, we all knew what she could do in ‘A Star Is Born,’ but I thought, ‘Oh, well, that’s kind of in her wheelhouse.’ Something she could do and just be real. But this… Man, she’s good.”
She added:
“Joaquin [Phoenix] blows your mind, but that she could keep up with him, and be real — and not just wiped off the screen by what that role is and what the performance is — shows she’s good.”
‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ comes out on October 4, 2024.
