Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Phillips has shared with fans when they can expect to see the first image of Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn.
To mark the start of production on the upcoming DC sequel, Phillips released a first look image of Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck on Instagram. However, after multiple fans requested a similar first look at Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn, Phillips shared in the post's comments section that the acclaimed singer/actor "does not start with us until after the new year. So it's gonna be a bit."
Lady Gaga was first announced to be joining the cast of Folie à Deux in August 2022, stepping into a role that was previously played only by Margot Robbie in DC's live-action films. Robbie, who has portrayed Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn in three DC Universe films, has previously expressed excitement at seeing what Lady Gaga will bring to the role, reiterating that it was always her intention for the character to get passed "from great actor to great actor." She added, "I think she'll do something incredible with it."
Joker: Folie à Deux cinematographer Lawrence Sher has teased fans that Gaga "will create a similar kind of magic that Joaquin brought by himself" and that the "combination of the two will be exactly what we hope, which is exciting, and we’ll find magic every day on set. Hopefully, we’ll also have a bit of madness in there. We like when there is a little bit of chaos."
What Is Joker 2 About?
While plot details are still scarce, the upcoming sequel will reportedly be a musical set predominantly in Arkham Asylum that follows shrink Harley Quinn as she falls for her patient Arthur Fleck. While some DC fans online are unsure if a Joker musical is a good idea, returning star Zazie Beetz has called the decision a great idea. "I actually think it makes wonderful sense. I wasn’t really surprised by that. Todd [Phillips] has always had a creative approach to the character. I love musicals, and I think of them as the characters are feeling and experiencing so much that they can only sing and dance about it, whether in sorrow or in joy," said Beetz. "And so I can see Arthur [Fleck], who is feeling and experiencing so much, dancing and singing about it. He’s the Joker, so I think it makes sense to me."
Joker was intended to be a standalone film with no sequels, but talks for a follow-up began shortly after the R-rated DC film obliterated the global box office, grossing over $1 billion. The film also netted Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor, making him the second actor after Heath Ledger to win an Oscar for playing the Joker. A sequel was officially announced by Phillips in June 2022, when the director shared a series of photos on Instagram. With DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran finalizing their long-term plans for the DCU, Joker: Folie à Deux remains the only DC film currently in production at Warner Bros.
Joker: Folie à Deux opens in theaters on Oct. 4, 2024.
Source: Instagram