Joaquin Phoenix, famous for his role as Joker in the 2019 film directed by Todd Phillips, is returning in the sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux. In a recent interview, Phoenix shared his experience of singing in front of Lady Gaga, who plays Harley Quinn in the movie. He mentioned that Gaga’s reaction of spitting up coffee after he sang made him feel confident. They worked together to create a musical rhythm that would highlight the characters’ development in the sequel.
Phoenix also emphasized the importance of music for his character, Arthur Fleck. He mentioned that it was crucial to maintain authenticity by incorporating poor phrasing and occasional bum notes in his singing. The music was a significant aspect of the character’s background, as Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio. Phoenix’s collaboration with Gaga and their musical scenes are expected to be a highlight of the film.
The first Joker movie was a massive success, being nominated for 11 Oscars and winning Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix. It became the highest-grossing R-rated movie and received critical acclaim. In the sequel, Phoenix reprises his role as Joker, while Lady Gaga joins as Harley Quinn. The film is set to predominantly take place in Arkham Asylum, with a supporting cast that includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and others. Zazie Beetz will also reprise her role as Sophie from the first film.
Joker: Folie a Deux is described as a musical and will build on Phoenix’s dancing scenes from the original movie. Todd Phillips returns as the director for the sequel. The film is set to be released in theatres on October 4, after premiering at the Venice Film Festival where the first Joker movie won the Golden Lion award in 2019. The anticipation for Joker: Folie a Deux is high, with fans excited to see how Phoenix and Gaga bring their characters to life in this musical sequel.