James Gunn has reacted to Lady Gaga’s casting in Joker: Folie à Deux. Upon its release in 2019, Todd Phillips Joker movie, which starred Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/ the Joker, succeeded as an unlikely blockbuster, becoming the first R-rated movie ever to gross $1 billion at the box office. The film charted Arthur’s descent into madness and cynicism after his failed stand-up career, showcasing how its ramifications spark a bombastic counter-cultural revolt against Gotham’s elite. While some critics voiced concerns that the movie could inspire real-life violence, the overall reception was quite favorable, leading Joker to win Academy Awards for Best Actor (for Phoenix) and Best Original Score.
Disconnected from the DCEU, Joker was intended as a standalone film that would launch a new franchise called DC Black. But after those plans did not materialize, Philips indicated his interest in doing a sequel. Various reports of movement surfaced over the years, but they were refuted until in June 2022, when a musical Joker sequel called Joker: Folie à Deux was confirmed to be in development with Philips and Phoenix returning. Reports subsequently emerged that Lady Gaga was in negotiations to star as Harley Quinn, and her casting was confirmed in August when the first teaser for Joker 2 was unveiled.
Now, responding to a fan’s question on his Instagram story, Gunn shared his views on Gaga’s addition to Joker 2’s cast. As the Guardians of the Galaxy director noted, he is thrilled that Gaga got the part. He also recounted meeting the singer once, mentioning that his interaction with her was decidedly pleasant. Take a look at his story below.
Despite divisive reactions against Joker 2’s musical format, Gunn seems quite excited about the sequel, and he is clearly supportive of Gaga’s casting. When the movie comes out in theaters, comparisons between Gaga’s Crown Princess of Crime and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, whom Gunn directed in The Suicide Squad, are inevitable. But Gunn is not treating that as a competition; rather, he is genuinely intrigued to see Philips’ new take on the character and how differently Gaga tackles her anti-heroine role. The filmmaker's comments reveal his exhilaration for Gaga’s Harley Quinn, and he will undoubtedly be among those cheering for the actress when she brings the character to life.
Gunn’s support bodes well for Joker 2, building anticipation among DC fans for the movie. Since filming on Joker 2 is not due to commence until December, it will be a while before audiences are treated to the first look at Gaga in costume. But until then, there will surely be more teasers to help tide viewers over. Right now, details on Gaga’s Harley in Joker: Folie à Deux, but as Gunn mentioned, it will be interesting to see what approach the sequel takes for her character. Whether the movie starts with a fully realized presence of Harley Quinn or charts her eventual transformation into The Queen of Gotham City is something that will only become clear in due course.
Source: James Gunn
