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What’s funnier than a clown? how about two Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker will have a criminal company for Folie à Deux, with Lady Gaga joining the sequel for a role reportedly a twist on Batman villain Harley Quinn. New photos have emerged from the production, revealing Gaga’s costume and makeup for the film.
The photos appear to show a large crowd with Gotham cops escorting Gaga’s character into a government building. Extras dressed as protesters gather around the star holding signs with messages such as “Free Joker”, “Justice 4 Joker”, “Joker Marry Me” and “No Justice Not Guilty Not Joking”. Among the crowd are of course some colorful wigs and clown masks.
Gaga’s costume as Oscar-nominated Arianne Phillips moves between the heightened sensibilities of the comic book source material and the gnarly aesthetic of the first “Joker” film. While it’s yet to be officially confirmed that Gaga is playing Harley Quinn, the scarlet jacket and diamond-patterned blouse would certainly suggest it, not to mention the romantic message among the protesters and the clown makeup on Gaga’s face.
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This isn’t the first look at Gaga from the set of Joker: Folie à Deux. On Valentine’s Day, director Todd Phillips shared a picture of Gaga and Phoenix in a romantic embrace. This official picture was a close-up, while these new photos show a different look at Gaga’s character.
Phillips’ original “Joker” was a commercial hit and became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. At the 2020 Academy Awards, the film received two wins – Phoenix for Best Actor and Hildur Guðnadóttir for Best Original Score – among a whopping 11 nominations. Speculations about a sequel quickly picked up speed.
Though the landscape of DC Comics has changed dramatically in recent months, Joker 2 has remained largely unaffected by the newly formed DC Studios and their co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. The “Joker” sequel will not feature in the narrative continuity of other upcoming DC films.
Warner Bros. will release Joker: Folie à Deux in theaters on October 9, 2024.
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