Joaquin Phoenix remembers his Joker: Folie À Deux co-star, Lady Gaga, “spitting up” her cup of joe when she first heard him sing. But Phoenix is also quick to point out how “encouraging” his on-screen love interest was when it came to pulling off Arthur Fleck’s, aka the Joker, attempts at expressing himself through song. Perhaps it’s difficult for fans to envison Phoenix Gene Kelly-ing his way through a comic book movie, but que sera, sera.
It’s likely not the way Rodgers and Hammerstein would have penned a musical, but the follow-up to 2019’s Joker promises a dynamic team-up between Gotham’s greatest villain and Harley Quinn. Phoenix spoke about working with Gaga, particularly when it came to singing dialogue, during a brand-new interview with Empire magazine:
“I do seem to remember her spitting up coffee the first time I sang, so that felt good.
That was exciting and made me feel confident.
Gaga was always very encouraging of just, ‘Go with what you feel, it’s fine.’
For somebody who’s not a performer in that way, it can be…
uncomfortable to do that, but also very exciting.”
While Phoenix may not have any Grammys to his name, like Gaga does, the A-List actor did win an Oscar (Best Actor) for his portrayal of Mr. Arthur Fleck in 2019’s Joker. Phoenix continued in the same interview:
“It was important to protect that with poor phrasing and occasional bum note.
Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs
on the radio.
He’s not a singer, and he shouldn’t sound like a professional singer.
He should sound like
somebody that’s taking a shower and just bursts out into song.”
Don’t Expect to Find Clown Prince of Crime in Joker 2
Fans are excited about seeing Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn come to life in director Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie À Deux. However, the mastermind behind 2019’s Joker — a superhero film nominated for 11 Academy Awards — wants fans to be prepared for the fact that Arthur Fleck will not be associated with or touted as the Joker’s famous nickname, the Clown Prince of Crime. Phillips said during the same interview:
“We would never do that, because Arthur clearly is not a criminal mastermind.
He was never that. Arthur has become this symbol to people.
This unwilling, unwitting symbol now paying for the crimes of the first film, but at the same time finding the only thing he ever wanted, which was love.
That’s always what he’s been about, even though he’s been pushed and pulled in all these directions.
So, we tried to just make the most pure version of that.”
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Fans React to Joker: Folie à Deux Teaser Trailer & Rave About Unforgettable Final Shot
Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga give fans plenty to be excited about in Joker 2’s teaser trailer, including that unforgettable last shot.
Between Lady Gaga’s “very authentic” performance as Harley Quinn and Phoenix reprising his Academy Award-winning role from 2019’s Joker, the anticipation for Joker: Folie À Deux is understandably high. And with such a lofty ceiling to try and reach for, it’ll be interesting to see if Joker 2 can live up to the magic captured by Phillips on-screen nearly five years ago.
Something for fans to remember is that one of the two Oscars Joker walked away with at the 2020 ceremony was for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score). So, as a musical, the Joker sequel has a lot to live up to already.
Joker: Folie À Deux
opens in theaters on October 4.