The Joker and Harley Quinn create beautiful chaos in "Joker: Folie à Deux"

The Real Perspectives
Jul 25, 2024
3 min read

July 25, 2024

Courtesy: Warner Bros.

The trailer for "Joker: Folie à Deux," the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 Academy Award-winning "Joker," debuted on May 23, much to the delight of fans of the first film and the DC Comics. Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck aka the infamous Joker in a role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Joining him is Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born), who plays Harley Quinn, his love interest.

Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Studios in association with Joint Effort, the film is directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay co-written with Scott Silver. Zazie Beetz reprises her role from the first film, and Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Catherine Keener (Get Out) also join the cast.

"Folie à Deux" translates to delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association and judging by the trailer, Joker has met his match in symphonized chaos with his female counterpart, Harley Quinn, as they wreak havoc on Gotham City.

Courtesy: Warner Bros.

The first film was a critically acclaimed commercial success for Warner Bros. and DC Studios, grossing $1.079 billion and receiving 11 Academy Award nominations. Phoenix's performance won him awards for Best Actor at the 92nd Academy Awards, the 77th Golden Globe Awards, and the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The first film takes place in Gotham City in 1981 and tells the origin story of the dark evolution of a failed comedian, Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), who becomes increasingly isolated and bullied while caring for his mother, Penny Fleck (Frances Conroy). He struggles with severe depression but finds joy in wearing clown makeup, performing for others, and trying to make people laugh. Facing constant cruelty, he slowly teeters on the brink of despair and insanity, hastened by a mental illness that is not correctly diagnosed, which sometimes results in uncontrollable bursts of laughter at inappropriate times.

Disregarded by society, Fleck begins slowly descending into madness as he transforms into his alter ego, The Joker. He quickly becomes a symbol of positive rebellion for the underprivileged against the city's privileged. Through acts of violence, he embraces his new persona. He inspires a powerful movement among the underprivileged, who start emulating him, wearing clown makeup while rioting in the streets and committing acts of violence.

When he learns that Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen), Bruce Wayne's father, of Wayne Enterprises, may be his father, he confronts him; however, he denies that he is Arthur's father and claims that his mother is delusional and that he is adopted. When Arthur returns home, he goes into a manic state of depression. Searching for evidence of his true paternity, he obtains files that prove he was, in fact, adopted and was abused as a child by Penny and her boyfriend. He kills Penny and two of his former co-workers. Before killing Franklin Murray (Robert DeNiro), the TV host he idolized but who publically humiliated him, he dyes his hair green, puts on full clown makeup, and fully embraces his insanity.

Courtesy: Warner Bros./ Joker

Arthur becomes an overnight sensation and Gotham is now overrun by rioters dressed as clowns. The Waynes leave a movie theater and finding chaos in the streets, Thomas takes his wife Martha (Carrie Louise Putrello) and Bruce into an alley, but one of the clowns follows them and kills Thomas and Martha in front of Bruce.

Arthur is arrested however his arrest escalates mass rioting and looting in the streets from people emulating him. Fully embracing the carnage around him, he relishes the euphoria of finally being recognized and adored by the clown makeup-wearing criminals.

Arthur is locked up in Arkham Asylum and laughs after visualizing a young Bruce standing over his parents in the alley. Taking full credit, he realizes that he has turned Bruce into himself. After meeting a new social worker, he tells her he wants to tell her a joke, but she wouldn't get it. After killing her, he leaves a trail of bloody footprints behind before he is chased around by orderlies.

According to the official synopsis for the new trailer, Arthur Fleck is still institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial for his crimes as the 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.

The film will be released in theaters on October 4, 2024.

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Watch the trailer below: