New JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Stills Released; Star Joaquin Phoenix Reveals Why He Agreed To Return For Sequel

New JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Stills Released; Star Joaquin Phoenix Reveals Why He Agreed To Return For Sequel

Empire Magazine has released a pair of new promo stills for Joker: Folie À Deux, spotlighting Joaquin Phoenix as the returning Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as "Lee."

By MarkCassidy - Jul 25, 2024 03:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Joker

Following on from the recent full trailer and today's covers, Empire has shared two new images from Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie À Deux, giving us another look at Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck alongside Lady Gaga, who will play this movie's take on Harley Quinn, "Lee."

Phoenix never seemed particularly interested in reprising his role for a sequel to Joker in interviews around the time of the movie's release, so what ultimately convinced him to return? It seems the script taking some unexpected turns and the ideas it presented feeling "dangerous" were the declining factors.

“It’s the only way that I can do any movie,” the actor explains. “If it doesn’t feel like it’s dangerous, if there’s not a good chance that you’re gonna fail spectacularly, then... what’s the point?”

“That was literally the reason to do it,” adds Phillips. “The only reason Joaquin would even do a sequel is if it felt frightening to him. One thing he really got off on on the first movie was this fear, every day, this nauseous fear of like, ‘What are we [frick]ing doing?’ He did not want it to be easy. And he wanted to feel as scared on this one. He goes, ‘Well, if I’m gonna do it, I just want to feel that it could not work.”

Have a look at the stills below, along with the recently-released trailer.

“Joker: Folie À Deux finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that's always been inside him."

From acclaimed writer/director/producer Todd Phillips comes Joker: Folie À Deux, the much-anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Academy Award-winning Joker, which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office and remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

The new film stars Joaquin Phoenix once again in his Oscar-winning dual role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, opposite Oscar winner Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born). The film also stars Oscar nominees Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Catherine Keener (Get Out, Capote), alongside Zazie Beetz, reprising her role from Joker.

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rebellion
rebellion - 7/25/2024, 3:35 PM
i mean, i get it... but it might not be the best blurb to send out for your PR campaign
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 7/25/2024, 3:45 PM
@rebellion - It’ll get the movie nuts going tho
rebellion
rebellion - 7/25/2024, 3:52 PM
@FireandBlood - true :D
itzayaboy
itzayaboy - 7/25/2024, 4:08 PM
Expectation setting. Classic PR move.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/25/2024, 4:15 PM
I’m sure the money was a deciding factor atleast…

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Kidding aside , I do feel like Phoenix is one of those actors that is all about the craft and the payday comes secondary so I can buy this reasoning.

It’s a sequel to a dark psychological character drama that was loosely based on a popular comic character which is further exploring him & that world with this new musical element aswell…

That certainly seems unique within this comic book movie genre space aswell to Joaquin’s own career because I don’t think he’s ever done a musical before (unless you count Walk The Line which isn’t really that) so I can see that being scary but appealing aswell.
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/25/2024, 5:41 PM
I say it’s pay check
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 7/25/2024, 6:44 PM
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JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 7/26/2024, 2:50 AM
He should have been in the Marvels. That was frighteningly risky.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/26/2024, 7:27 AM
well he was in Napoleon.

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