Todd Phillips’ Joker became one of 2019’s biggest movies, earning $1 billion at the box office while also introducing a fresh new take on the Clown Prince of Crime. As a result of this success, the Joaquin Phoenix-led movie received a green light for a sequel, set for release in October 2024. The upcoming project, which is titled Joker: Folie a Deux, will also feature the DC debut of Lady Gaga, seemingly as this universe’s Harley Quinn.
Lady Gaga’s casting as the DC villain marks the character’s second live-action portrayal, following Margot Robbie’s performance in three big screen projects, namely Suicide Squad (2016), Birds of Prey (2019), and The Suicide Squad (2021).
James Gunn Reacts to Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn
During an Instagram Q&A, The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker director James Gunn shared his thoughts about the casting of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie a Deux.
Gunn admitted that he’s “really interested to see” what Joker director Todd Phillips will showcase in the sequel while also describing Lady Gaga as someone who is “really nice.” The DC filmmaker ended his answer by saying that he’s “always rooting” for nice people to do well.
James Gunn’s encouraging comment about Lady Gaga’s upcoming DC debut is a welcome development, and this could motivate the actress/singer in her portrayal of Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie a Deux.
Furthermore, the Marvel and DC filmmaker’s supportive remark about Todd Phillips’ creative approach for the sequel is also promising, mainly due to the divisive reaction from fans about the sequel being infused with musical elements. Gunn’s sentiment echoed Joker star Zazie Beetz’s support for Phillips as well, with her saying that the genre shift “makes wonderful sense” and aligns with Phillips’ “creative approach to the character.”
The debut of Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn could also mean that Robbie’s version will likely not appear until after 2024, considering that two iterations of the villain that are being portrayed on-screen could be confusing for casual viewers. Joker: Folie a Deux is set to premiere on October 4, 2024.