Todd Phillip's Joker movie was a unique take on the iconic villain's origin. While the downward spiral of Arthur Fleck was tragic to see, the film balanced this with a fresh look at some of cinema's best genre movies. In the case of Joker, it homaged Taxi Driver by featuring an unreliable narrator who believed what he was doing was right when reality proved he was actually dangerous. As a result, it offered a totally new iteration of Joker that was a force of nature. Now, Joker: Folie à Deux will continue Arthur's story and see a new genre be explored in musicals.

But more exciting than these unique creative choices was the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. For now, it's hard to see where this direction will take the character compared to Margot Robbie's. That said, recent photos that revealed a more comic-accurate look may have teased a new angle for the film that could either benefit the overall vibe of the series or make it not unlike anything seen before.

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Joker Established a Unique Elseworlds Tone

A closeup of the Joker movie poster, showing the titular character dancing in the street

Part of the allure surrounding Joker was how it existed in a world akin to his comic roots yet totally different. For example, this Joker started his crusade when Bruce Wayne was still a boy. His actions led to the death of the Waynes at the end of the movie. Furthermore, it also raised the question of whether the titular character was a precursor to the real Joker or the genuine article but in a more grounded and realistic sense. Ultimately, the film was more about the essence and tone of Joker as a character and less about whether he fits into an established canon.

Like The Batman, Joker existed in an Elseworlds continuity. In the comics, that label meant the stories followed the base levels of a character but altered their origin or characterization. A great example would be Superman: Red Son (by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson), which explored what happened when Clark Kent crash-landed in Soviet Russia. In the case of Joker, however, this Elseworlds angle offered a bit of mystery. But with Harley Quinn looking like a loose representation of her comic counterpart and likely following a similar origin, it could hinder the mystique of the series.

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A Comic-Accurate Harley Quinn Could Hurt Joker 2's Mystery

Harley and Joker dancing in a Joker 2 promo image.

Joker: Folie à Deux's Harley Quinn, based on the snippets of information provided, may still follow the same storyline as her comic counterpart, unlike Arthur Fleck, whose origin was totally new. And coupled with her iconic outfit and make-up, it'll be hard to see how this Harley would break the mold or appear different from any that came before. While it's almost certain that Lady Gaga's performance will bring a new flair to the character, especially with her being an Arkham patient, her origin is tied so heavily to The Joker that it'll be hard for her to try something new in the film.

In doing so, it risks taking the mystery and intrigue the past movie established and may tie too heavily into the source material, making it yet another Joker and Harley love story. Arthur Fleck's Joker has separated himself heavily from the character that inspired him, but there's always a risk that an Elseworlds story could still tie heavily into what came before. Nevertheless, Todd Phillips has proven before that he can bring uniqueness to these characters and may do so again with Harley Quinn.