Joker director Todd Phillips has given the world a preview of Lady Gaga as Dr Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in the forthcoming sequel Joker: Folie à deux.
The Instagram post, captioned with a very tongue-in-cheek “Happy Valentine’s Day,” depicts the songstress-turned-thespian’s Quinn embracing Joaquin Phoenix as the titular Clown Prince of Crime – the latter appearing rather dishevelled in his signature makeup (see: above).
Joker: Folie à deux marks the second occasion Lady Gaga has collaborated with Todd Phillips after the celebrated 2018 remake A Star Is Born, which the former starred in and the latter produced. Incidentally, A Star Is Born co-star Bradley Cooper also produced the first Joker film.
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As for what the story will entail, at this stage, details are still rather vague. “Folie à deux” is a French phrase that translates to “madness of two” or “shared psychosis.” It’s also used to describe a “delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association” in English. So take from that what you will.
As clarified by DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran earlier this month, Todd Phillips’ Joker films and Matt Reeves’ The Batman saga led by Robert Pattinson will now exist in independent category known as the “DC Elseworlds,” separate from the main Marvel-style machine comprised of interconnected elements. But where does this leave the latter vis-à-vis Batman and Joker?
Parallel to the above, Gunn and Safran are currently developing a DCU Batman based on Grant Morrison‘s run of the ongoing mythology, The Brave & The Bold, featuring Batman’s son with Talia al Ghul: Damian Wayne – the lethal protégé raised by the League of Assassins from birth who eventually takes on the mantle of Robin.
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Additionally, fans have – at long last – received clarity on the matter of Superman. With Henry Cavill now out of the picture, Gunn and Safran mentioned the coming feature-length project, Superman: Legacy, will mark the “true beginning of the DCU.”
“We’re hoping that [James Gunn] will direct it,” noted Peter Safran.
“It’s not an origin story. It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.”
While casting is still TBA, the Superman: Legacy release date has already been slated for July 11th of 2025. Joker: Folie à deux starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, on the other hand, is scheduled to premiere on October 4th of 2024 – check out the teaser dropped last August below.
