Todd Phillips’ standalone ‘Joker‘ movie was a revelation when it was released in 2019. Going forward with a bold new narrative, Phillip portrayed the iconic Batman villain as Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill man struggling to fit in with the cruel world around him. Joaquin Phoenix gave a deep-rooted performance that was widely acclaimed.
The highly anticipated sequel ‘Joker: Folie À Deux‘ looks to expand by taking the character into new directions. Picking up with Arthur captive in Arkham Asylum, the film will explore his relationship with Harley Quinn. Director Todd Phillips has shared some new details on the movie’s vision and also its musical elements as well. This is what he said in a recent interview about the direction and setting of the new movie.
Todd Phillips On Joker’s New Dimension In The Sequel
Todd Phillips took an unconventional route with the Batman villain in 2019 by straying away from the criminal mastermind that he is typically portrayed as. This is exactly what he aims to build upon in the sequel rather than limiting the character to its source material.
In an interview with Empire, Phillips said, “We would never do that. Because Arthur clearly is not a criminal mastermind. He was never that“. This was in relation to Joker’s conventional motive and context and how he is a wrecker of Gotham instead of a confused man trying to navigate it. While the first movie concluded with Joker becoming a symbol of chaos in Gotham, the sequel will explore more of Arthur’s psyche and personal connections.
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A Musical Partnership To Unfold In The Sequel
The incorporation of musical numbers will be new for the genre. “It comes from the notion in the first film that, in Phillips’ words, Fleck “has music in him“, said Phillips as the reasoning behind this creative decision. Joaquin Phoenix prepared by focusing on keeping his characters singing raw, instead of polished. “He’s not a singer, and he shouldn’t sound like a professional singer. He should sound like someone who’s taking a shower and just bursts out into song“, added Phillips.
By disregarding the conventional formula, Folie À Deux appears to ready itself to surprise audiences and add new layers to the Joker’s psychology. Following Phillips’ vision, fans can certainly expect another grueling adaptation of one of fiction’s most daunting characters when the movie releases in October.
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