Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix Explore Joker’s Twisted Romance in ‘Folie à Deux’

Lady Gaga has disclosed that her creative process for the upcoming “Joker” sequel was ignited during a road trip through Big Sky Country with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, in late 2022. She found herself deeply inspired by the landscape of Wyoming and the Teton Range, which helped shape her approach to playing Harley Quinn. “So Michael, my fiancé, and I were driving around some of the most beautiful mountains in the world,” Gaga explained. “And I was thinking, ‘Can you believe that this woman says to (the Joker) that ‘We’re gonna build a mountain together’? It’s a complete fantasy.”

The anticipated film, “Folie à Deux,” set to hit theaters soon, offers a dark and twisted love story, diverging from traditional superhero narratives. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his role as Arthur Fleck, the deranged Joker, alongside Gaga’s portrayal of Quinn, who is also known as Lee Quinzel. The film follows their complicated relationship within the confines of Arkham State Hospital.

Director Todd Phillips and Phoenix sought a departure from typical comic-book adaptations, as Phoenix noted, “We didn’t want to just carry on from the first film like, he’s the Joker now, so now we’re going to see him out there robbing banks. There wasn’t going to be any of that.” Instead, they explore the complexities of a relationship molded by chaotic and violent circumstances.

The film’s narrative progresses two years after a TV movie about Joker’s original crimes, depicting Arthur’s disenchantment with his once-celebrated Joker persona. In this sequel, Arthur must navigate life in the violent offenders’ wing of a mental institution, where his path crosses with Quinn’s, leading to a volatile and surreal partnership.

The film emerges as a unique blend of psychological exploration and musical drama. Gaga’s input, especially her idea for a dream waltz sequence inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, showcases the film’s imaginative stance. “It was exciting because I brought the scene idea to Todd and Joaquin,” Gaga shared. “It starts in the spirit of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I thought the most wild thing that these two could imagine about themselves is being the picture of health and happiness. But then it falls apart. The waltz is broken, so are they.”

Both Phoenix and Gaga engaged in rigorous preparation for their roles. Phoenix underwent significant physical transformation and intense training for dance sequences, thereby adding authenticity to the film’s musical elements. “There’s no CGI, there’s no face replacement, there’s no stand-in for this dude,” Phillips confirmed regarding Phoenix’s performance, which includes a demanding tap dance sequence choreographed by Michael Arnold.

The film culminates in a spectacular Joker trial depicted with a mix of courtroom drama and musical flair. This keeps the audience engaged in the movie’s exploration of identity, delusion, and the thin line between reality and fantasy.