In 2019, a Todd Phillips previously known for directing The Hangover, surprised the world with the release of Joker, a film starring Joaquin Phoenix that was loosely based on the Batman villain. The film won the Golden Lion at Venice and the Oscar for Best Actor for Phoenix, achieving impressive box office numbers for an R-rated film along the way.
Now, five years later, the most anticipated sequel will hit theaters. Joker: Folie à deux – translated as Madness of Two – will premiere on October 4th, and it will do so with a very special companion for Phoenix: Lady Gaga. The singer of Bad Romance plays a free version of Harley Quinn in the film, and in the trailer it is clear that she will be essential for this Joker:
The musical you didn’t know you needed
Released at the 2024 Cinema Con, the trailer makes several important points for the audience to consider. First and foremost, although not explicitly stated, it is clear that we are dealing with a musical film. According to the trailer itself, it is the music that brings the two protagonists together and brings out their best versions, and it will be the fuel that the Joker needs to wreak havoc once again.
On the other hand, it is clear that Lady Gaga will be co-star, but her character changes quite a bit from the original. The Harley Quinn from the comics has a very interesting story: she is the psychiatrist of the Joker and falls in love with his psychology after spending so much time with him. Here, she will simply be another inmate who falls into his madness… a much more obvious and, if I may say so, boring story.
However, the movie may still surprise us. Considering its release date, it seems destined to be re-released at the Venice Film Festival and to dominate this year’s Halloween costumes. In short, we won’t have a year without a Joker respite… we’ll see if it’s for better or for worse.
