THR has reported that Lady Gaga is in early talks to star in Joker 2 alongside Joaquin Phoenix. Details are sparse at this time, but the outlet claims that Lady Gaga would play Harley Quinn, the Joker’s psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum. Not only that, but sources are telling THR that the Joker sequel will also be a musical. That’s wild.
It was just last week when Joker director Todd Phillips shared an image of the front page of the script for Joker 2 on Instagram, as well as a photo of Joaquin Phoenix reading it. The sequel is titled Joker: Folie à Deux. The French term refers to a madness shared by two and is a “psychiatric syndrome in which symptoms of a delusional belief, and sometimes hallucinations, are transmitted from one individual to another.” Todd Phillips has been writing the script for the sequel with Scott Silver for some time and recently shared it with Warner Bros. Although Joaquin Phoenix was shown reading the script, he hasn’t officially signed on and is still working out a deal with the studio.
Should Lady Gaga sign on to play Harley Quinn in Joker 2, this version of the character would obviously be different from the one portrayed by Margot Robbie, who has played the role in Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and The Suicide Squad. Lady Gaga and Todd Phillips have worked together before, as Phillips served as a producer on A Star is Born.
When the title of the Joker sequel was announced, fans immediately began theorizing that Harley Quinn could be involved, and it would seem they’re right. As for the musical aspect, I’ll admit that took me by surprise, but Arthur Fleck’s imagination seems to go hand in hand with his madness. It’s not hard to imagine elaborate musical fantasy sequences playing out in Fleck’s head, and if you’ve got Lady Gaga involved, why the hell not?
What do you think of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn? And how do you feel about the movie being a musical?