2019’s ‘Joker’ introduced the DC villain as someone involved in crime due to mental struggles caused by Gotham’s social corruption. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga teamed up to continue Arthur Fleck’s story in ‘Joker: Folie À Deux.’
The two performed musical numbers for some scenes in the upcoming psychological thriller. Phoenix shared about Gaga’s reaction to his singing in a new cover story with Empire:
“I do seem to remember her spitting up coffee the first time I sang, so that felt good; that was exciting, and made me feel confident. Gaga was always very encouraging of just ‘Go with what you feel, it’s fine.’ For somebody who’s not a performer in that way, it can be… uncomfortable to do that, but also very exciting.”
How Phoenix Designed His Joker
Joker’s new story focused on his psyche as a failed comedian turned public figure rather than his rise as a criminal mastermind. So, Phoenix’s version required touches to make it feel real like making sure that his singing was flawed in the film:
“It was important to protect that with poor phrasing and occasional bum notes. Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio. He’s not a singer; he shouldn’t sound like a professional singer. He should sound like somebody that’s taking a shower and just bursts out into song.”
Director Todd Phillips noted that:
“Arthur clearly is not a criminal mastermind. He was never that. Arthur has become this symbol to people. This unwilling, unwitting symbol now paying for the crimes of the first film, but at the same time finding the only thing he ever wanted, which was love. That’s always what he’s been about, even though he’s been pushed and pulled in all these directions. So, we tried to just make the most pure version of that.”
Gaga’s Harley Quinn Has A New Vibe
Harley Quinn’s depiction in ‘Folie À Deux’ differed a lot from previous interpretations, as well. Phillips explained it:
“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 shared about her new vibe:
“She became like the way [Charles] Manson had girls who 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.”
The film’s trailer teased Gaga’s Harley also as a more influential figure in her and Joker’s dynamic. You can check it out below.
‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ will arrive on October 4.
