In just under a month, “Joker: Folie à Deux” is set to captivate movie audiences with Lady Gaga’s fresh take on Harley Quinn, alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker. This film marks Gaga’s third major leading role, adding another layer to her impressive career as a musician and actress. During filming, Gaga and Phoenix engaged in a collaborative rewriting process, enhancing their characters and the film’s narrative.
Gaga described the experience, noting, “We’d very often meet and sometimes we would just tear the script up and start all over. It was a really cool, liberating process.” Director Todd Phillips supported her account, illustrating their dynamic approach to crafting scenes. He explained, “You think, ‘Okay, this scene works, let’s just go shoot it.’ And Joaquin’s like, ‘No, no, no, let’s just have a quick meeting about it,’ and it’s three hours later and you’re rewriting it on a napkin.”
In “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Gaga’s character, Harleen “Lee” Quinzel, diverges from her origin as Arthur’s therapist; instead, she is a fellow patient at Arkham State Hospital who becomes captivated by the Joker. Gaga shared her perspective on Harley’s journey into love and madness, reflecting on societal perceptions of women’s emotions. “Sometimes women are labeled as these overly emotional creatures… But I wonder if when things become so broken from reality, it creates a quietness,” she said.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” is set to hit theaters on October 4, promising a unique exploration of complex characters and emotional depth.
