Lady Gaga is in talks to star in Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel, and the internet is going mad. It’s easy to see why: not only is Gaga likely to play Harley Quinn, the Joker’s love interest, but it’s reported that the next instalment is going to be a musical.
Yes, we know, it’s a lot to take in. Particularly because it’s difficult to imagine the first Joker film, which was released in 2019, garnered over $1 billion at the box office and won dozens of awards - including a Best Actor Academy Award for Joaquin Phoenix - with the addition of any sort of proper choreographed sing-song element.
Todd Phillips also teased the new title on his Instagram: the second Joker film will be called Joker: Folie à Deux. Folie à deux is a term used to describe two people in close association who share a mental illness or some kind of delusion and so the title seems to indicate that a second character, whether it be Gaga or someone else, is likely to play a very important role in the forthcoming film.
Phillips, whose previous writing credits include The Hangover and War Dogs, has written the script with his Joker co-writer, Scott Silver.
So what do we know about Lady Gaga’s role in the sequel? So far, not much. But the chances that Gaga will play Harley Quinn are pretty high. In the comic books, Quinn starts off as the Joker’s psychiatrist. The two fall in love and begin a complicated and abusive relationship with Quinn as the Joker’s supervillain sidekick.
However, it also doesn’t necessarily follow either that Phillips will chose to use DC characters. The writer and director very much did his own thing with the 2019 Joker film.
But according to The Hollywood Reporter, even though Phillips posted a photo of Phoenix reading what can only be assumed to be the new script, the actor has not actually closed a deal with Warners yet. So it seems that both Gaga and Phoenix’s contracts are still yet to be hashed out.
Hundreds of fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts. The majority were thrilled, if a little perplexed by the news:
“I really didn’t think there should be a sequel to Joker but a musical with Lady Gaga is such a weird thing for a sequel I’m interested,” said one.
“I’m convinced that Lady Gaga playing Harley Quinn in Joker sequel would be written in the history books,” said another.
“Guys. Guys, guys!! Lady Gaga is gonna be Harley Quinn in the next Joker movie!!!! Eeeeee!!!!!!” said a third fan.
However some Twtter users were a little less enthusiastic:
“Thought the thing about Joker 2 being a musical starring Lady Gaga was a joke but apparently it’s not?” asked one.
“Gaga as Harley Quinn?? Phenomenal. Joker and Quinn in a musical? Hell no,” said another.
“Joker musicial featuring lady gaga sounds like a prank, what did we do to deserve this pain?” said another Twitter user.
I really didn't think there should be a sequel to Joker but a musical with Lady Gaga is such a weird thing for a sequel I'm interested.
— Pure Flakes (@flakes_pure) June 14, 2022
Guys. Guys, guys!! Lady Gaga is gonna be Harley Quinn in the next Joker movie!!!! Eeeeee!!!!!!
— Karrie Flannigan (@Karrie1313) June 14, 2022
I thought the thing about Joker 2 being a musical starring Lady Gaga was a joke but apparently it's not? pic.twitter.com/lv9285Q2MX
— Rickyticky Bobbywobbin (@AmySwinners) June 14, 2022
Gaga as Harley Quinn?? Phenomenal. Joker and Quinn in a musical? Hell no.
— Matt Pasco (@mpasco26) June 14, 2022
