A new Joker: Folie à Deux set photo has finally given us confirmation on a couple of facts about Lady Gaga’s version of Harley Quinn.
Please consider everything beyond this point as potential spoilers.
We recently got a chance to see Joaquin Phoenix filming a scene, and then came a video of Lady Gaga filming a scene, but in very normal-looking clothes. The most recent set photos and video showed her in a more traditional full Harley Quinn costume.
A rumor that had been going around was that this version of Harley wouldn’t follow the usual origin story of her being the Joker’s doctor, but instead that she would be a fellow inmate at Arkham. A newspaper was spotted on set that seems to confirm this fact along with proof she will be called “Harleen Frances Quinzel.”
It should definitely be noted that there is no way to prove as of yet that Harley starts off as an inmate or becomes one later in the story. Harley has been in and out of Arkham in just about every iteration, but this does seem to fit with the rumors that have been heard.
While there still has been no official releases or announcements about her actually being Harley, these photos have pretty much removed the need for that.
Joker hit theaters in 2019 and quickly became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time–a seat it still holds more than 3 years later–by a significant margin. The Clown Prince of Crime raked in $1.07 billion at the worldwide box office, followed by Deadpool 2 and Deadpool at $786 and $782 million respectively. Phillips’ unique take on the character was also nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning two of those. Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor, while Hildur Guðnadóttir took him a golden statue for Original Music Score.
Phoenix returns to once again star in the sequel, and Phillips has returned to both write and direct. Alongside Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, there are currently-unconfirmed reports of Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener, Harry Lawtey, and Jacob Lofland joining the cast as well.
The film’s title already feels like a solid fit for the characters. The term ‘folie à deux,’ or ‘folly of two’ is a french term that refers to a condition of shared psychosis or shared delusional disorder. Applying real-world medical terms to fictional characters can be rocky, but if ever there was a term to describe Joker and Harley Quinn, this sure seems like it.
Joker: Folie à Deux is currently scheduled to hit theaters on Oct. 4, 2024.
