When “Joker” was released nearly five years ago, Joaquin Phoenix’s (“Napoleon”) performance captivated audiences and had Phoenix win several Academy Awards. “Joker” added a whole new perspective on typical superhero and villain stories by giving the beloved villain Joker his own protagonist story. Combining the struggles of mental health and how mental health is perceived in society, “Joker” told a groundbreaking story that drew audiences in with its rawness and truth.

In June 2022, a sequel to “Joker” was announced and fans were shocked to see that it would be a musical with Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) playing Harley Quinn. Fans have high hopes for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” but everyone seems to have faith in the direction that this movie is going. 

“Joker” was such a well done movie and received little criticism, so although a musical or movie with musical elements is a leap from the 2019 version, fans seem to trust that it will fit the story well. Joker, in the movie, is an unreliable narrator, and the audience watches his story through this lens as the world around him seems to be against him. Phoenix does an incredible job of showing the emotions and heartbreak Joker goes through and the complexity of his mental health. 

Lady Gaga has had a few acting jobs and has been honing in on that side of her career. She has been seen in the fifth season of “American Horror Story: Hotel” which can help her take on Harley Quinn, leaning into more of that darker side. Gaga is most known for her amazing performance in “A Star Is Born” where she and Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”) bring to life the classic story. Gaga’s songs in “A Star Is Born” were so popular, and it felt like everyone was singing “Shallow.” 

Lady Gaga seems to be the perfect pick for Harley Quinn’s character, especially if there will be musical elements. Gaga can put on a powerful performance, giving true emotions to her characters. With her help from “American Horror Story” and her stage persona, Gaga will be able to bring that darker and more eccentric element to the Harley Quinn character. Of course, Lady Gaga is known for her incredible, powerful voice, so there is no questioning her singing ability in the upcoming sequel. 

Most fans are speculating that the music element in “Joker: Folie à Deux” will most likely be the character’s more dreamlike and fantasy scenarios to add more of the heightened unreliability of the character. Phoenix is a phenomenal actor who dedicated a lot to making his portrayal of Joker special and unique to him. His performance has put him above many others, and people are mesmerized by the duality of his work in “Joker” to be able to represent the complexity of mental health in society. Whatever the sequel to “Joker” will be, fans cannot wait for October 4 to watch Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga sing as two of the most iconic characters in supervillain history. 

Image from Screen Culture via YouTube