Duo's Joker Journey Kicks Off in an Unforeseen Manner
Let's Dive into the Madness of Joker: Folie a Deux
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride through the twisted mind of the Joker, as director Todd Phillips delivers an electrifying musical/ character study/courtroom drama/comic-book sequel titled Joker: Folie a Deux. Here's the lowdown on this highly anticipated spectacle.
A Whimsical beginning:
Just like a Looney Tunes cartoon, a captivating animated sequence kicks off the film, with Sylvain Chomet, director of The Triplets of Belleville, taking the helm. As for the story, it plunges headfirst into a chaotic cocktail of prison riots, courtroom confrontations, and a variety-show sequence that presents a lethal Sonny and Cher—you guessed it, none other than Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Todd Phillips, the mastermind behind the movie, described the overall theme as, "It was made by crazy people. The inmates are running the asylum."
Fast Forward Two Years:
The tale unfolds two years after the first film, placing Arthur Fleck, now facing the death penalty in a psych ward, in the heart of the tale. Following his on-air murder of famous talk show host, Murray Franklin, Fleck encounters a fellow patient—Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, played by Lady Gaga. This enigmatic woman is strangely smitten with Fleck and his alter ego, the Joker. At this point, Fleck decides to ditch his medication and immerses himself in a fantastical world reminiscent of MGM musicals, all while tripping on acid.
The Tunes and the Tempest:
The film features several new musical numbers that help express the inner turmoil of Arthur and the complex relationship between him and Harley. Some of the songs include "Get Happy," "For Once in My Life," and "That's Life," with the Joker being fond of romantic ballads, while Harley prefers music about power. Phillips made it clear that the movie doesn't halt its progress to perform familiar numbers, with most of the music serving as dialogue instead.
Lady Gaga's All-New Avatar:
Todd Phillips explained Lady Gaga's revamped approach to Harley Quinn, stripping away the high voice, the gum-chewing, and other comic-book characteristics to make her fit seamlessly into Gotham's gritty world. Gaga herself praised Phillips' audacious concept, stating, "Todd took a huge swing with this entire concept and the script, giving the Joker sequel this boldness and complexity."
A New Chapter or the Final Act?
Despite the potential launch of a new Joker and Harley multi-media franchise, Phillips conveyed he currently has no plans for a follow-up to Folie a Deux, commenting, "We've had fun playing in this sandbox for two movies, but I think we've said what we wanted to say in this world."
So there you have it—Joker: Folie a Deux hits theaters on October 4, promising a wild ride through an imperfect world filled with love, chaos, and the Joker's twisted musical numbers. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Comics films and TV shows, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
- The highly anticipated film, Joker: Folie a Deux, promises a blend of technology-driven animation and live-action narratives, as the animator Sylvain Chomet brings Looney Tunes-like sequences to life.
- In the next two years, technology will be instrumental in recreating the MGM musical world, with the help of advanced visual effects, as the story progresses.
- IO9 readers are advised to look forward to the release of the movie soundtrack, featuring musical numbers from artists like Lady Gaga, as she takes on the role of Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie a Deux.
- As viewers witness the dramatic faceoffs between the Joker and other iconic characters in the film, they will have the opportunity to experience cutting-edge cinematic technology that merges reality and fantasy.
