Joker: Folie a Deux

Summary

The first teaser house trailer forJoker : Folieà Deuxhas formally dropped , and it ’s wasted no time in cluing savvy consultation in to a bevy of clever character reference and Easter eggs . True to the rumors , Joker : Folie à Deuxwill returnJoaquin Phoenix to his Academy Award - winning roleas the titular villain opposite Lady Gaga ’s Harley Quinn , thrusting a new partner in offence into Joker ’s life in an ethereal , musical place setting paint by the psychosis of its subject . Already , the film promise some clever callbacks and connective tissue paper to the first pic and beyond .

Just like 2019’sJoker , Joker : Folie à Deuxtakes berth in its own disconnected existence , estranged from the otherupcoming DCU releases of 2024 . That being allege , the first poke seems to recognize flock of media beyond just the first picture show , from some of the most famous Batman comic storylines to hall - of - fame musicals . If the freshly - released teaser poke is anything to go by , the full film will have no shortage of blink - and - you’ll - miss - it references and Easter egg to look out for .

10Fleck’s White Suit Is Similar To Joker’s Look In The Dark Knight Returns Graphic Novel

One of the most famous Batman stories ever gets yet another cinematic nod

Compared to the trailers and early media for the first movie , Joker : Folie à Deuxgives Arthur Fleck less time in his touch wooing and clown makeup , owe to his reset position quo in a mental health adroitness following the events of the first film . The puzzler trailer gives some brief glimpses of a number of Joker outfits , many of which in all probability exist within the throes of Fleck ’s imagination . One expression in particular , however , stands out as a reference to one of the most iconic Batman comic strip ever .

In one extravagant melodic setpiece , Joker appears before stage light on what depend to be a Great White Way set conjure up a church , as Harley Quinn approaches him on a winding path . Here , Joker is wearing an all - white lawsuit alongside his signature makeup , paint a picture his appearance inThe Dark Knight Returns , the far-famed standalone Batman tale penned by Frank Miller . The Dark Knight Returnshas been cite in movies likeBatman v Superman : Dawn of Steeland the animate photographic film of the same name , but this expect for the Joker had yet to be reduplicate in alive - action .

9Harley’s Finger Gun Mirrors Arthur’s Big Mental Break In Joker

The playful gesture has a darker connotation within the first film’s context

One of the most tragical elements ofJokeris the misread family relationship between Arthur Fleck and Sophie Dumond , his neighbour . In their first fundamental interaction , Sophie pantomime shooting herself with a digit gunslinger to Arthur , which place into motion an full opine relationship between the two imagine in Arthur ’s mind . The mental interruption upon Fleck realizing they had never interact beyond the abbreviated motion is one of the most devestating reveals of the intact movie .

This clip around , it ’s Harley Quinn who uses the finger gun on herself while looking at Arthur , echoing the imaginary relationship of the first film with something perhaps more tangible . It ’s easy to simulate that this time around , Joker ’s love involvement will be slightly more based in realism , but many clip more dangerous . take Zazie Beetz ’s Sophie is slated to retrovert tothe cast ofJoker : Folie à Deux , even if only in the mannequin of a hallucination , it ’ll be interesting to see how Fleck ’s feelings about the two women are reconcile .

8Arthur’s Prison Umbrellas Match His Joker Suit

No color was chosen carelessly for Joker 2’s set design

One face of the new annoyer preview forJoker : Folie à Deuxthat has been receive high-pitched kudos is the punctilious cinematography . In particular , the final shot of Arthur adjust his smile to match with the red one delineate on his cell window by Harley has been glorify for its creativity . But this apt shot is far from the only bit of maven optical storytelling the abbreviated view of the trailer have shown off .

At one point , as Arthur Fleck is escorted from building to building , he ’s flank on all sides by orderlies carrying umbrellas in the swarm rain , though Arthur himself is allow exposed to the element . Each of these umbrellas put up a particular color : orange , red , blue , and yellow . Beyond the muted chromaticity elicit the colourful language of sixty and 70s TV shows , whichJokerclearly had an chemical attraction for , they match the colors of his suit in the previous film one - to - one .

7Joker 2’s Umbrellas May Be An Homage To The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

The umbrellas may have a deeper meaning beyond pointing to the first film

turkey : Folie à Deuxwears its melodic influenceson its sleeve , making no secret of the Broadway play caparison the film will appear to carry throughout the entire runtime in the abbreviated poke . From a prominent rendering of Tom Jones ' variation of " What the World Needs Now Is Love " to the dreamlike world frame of stage lights and terpsichore number , the film makes no misunderstanding about its new infusion of the genre . But beyond merely appear like a melodic , Joker : Folie à Deuxmay just be taking direct inspiration from one , as well .

The same umbrella bearing the colour of Fleck ’s one-time Joker suit evoke the imagery of a classic French melodic , Les Parapluies de Cherbourg , lie with asThe Umbrellas of Cherbourgin English . Sure enough , this musical boast raft of colorful umbrella in its melodious numbers and promotional materials , similar to those envision in the new trailer . Between the French caption and the decipherable thematic connection , Joker : Folie à Deuxseems to immediately bear court to this picture in special .

6Joker And Harley Are Being Held In Arkham Asylum

The importance of the location isn’t lost on any DC fan

2019’sJokerdidn’t go to vast lengths to address its situation in the not bad world of the Batman mythos . Other than Arthur Fleck ’s abbreviated interaction with a young Bruce Wayne just outside the gates of Wayne manor , it ’s easy to forget that the film even takes position in Gotham at all . However , the tease trailer forJoker : Folie à Deuxirrevocably introduce an incredibly significant location in DC Comics , Arkham Asylum , the sanitarium in which Fleck is housed surveil his mental break in the first celluloid .

Arkham Asylum is the famous habitation of many of Batman ’s most dangerous criminals once they ’ve been comprehend , include the Joker himself . It seems as though Arthur and Harley Quinn will find sexual love at an improbable meet cunning within the institution , possibly make it out to be something else within their imaginativeness . One prospect features the two dancing on a rooftop , backlit by a monolithic blue Ne sign reading " Hotel Arkham . " form their captivity within the drab psychiatric hospital into a luxurious hotel stay may be one of the many ways Joker and Harley transfigure reality in the moving picture .

5Harley Being An Arkham Inmate References Her DC Origins

The film seems to have played with the idea of Harley’s origins

Arkham Asylum is also important as a location due to its position as the birthplace of Harley Quinn herself . Ever sinceHarley Quinn ’s introduction inBatman : The Animated Series , it was establish that she was earlier Dr. Harleen Quinzel , a psychiatrist figure out at the notorious institution . There , she meets Joker , and in an attempt to understand him , she winds up alternatively falling in love with him , being hopelessly brainwashed into becoming his close chum and abused romantic spouse .

InJoker : Folie à Deux , it seems as though this descent has been somewhat altered . Joker and Harley do indeed meet at Arkham Asylum , but rather than being a professional shrink work there , Harley is rather merely a boyfriend inmate . It seems as though the pic may postulate Harley as the one influencing Joker to return to a clown - themed lifetime of crime rather than the other way around , putting an interesting twist on their common dynamic of frantic love .

4Joker And Harley’s Dance Calls Back To A Classic Batman Quote

1989’s Batman gets a subtle tip of the cap

Being a musical , it ’s no surprise thatJoker : Folie à Deuxfeatures plenty of dancing , with Joker and Harley Quinn strutting their room across a variety of eye - popping set . One of the locations they dance through in finicky calls back to a famous line the Joker had in one of his earliest cinematic appearances . The credit line could be an omen of the calamity that might bechance Harley Quinn by meddle in Arthur Fleck ’s biography .

In Tim Burton’sBatman , Joker is played by Jack Nicholson , who is fond of repeat a strange interrogation – " Did you ever dance with the devil in the pale Moon ? " In the film , Batman acknowledge Joker to be the same man that killed his parents thanks to this credit line . In theJoker : Folie à Deuxteaser trailer , Harley Quinn answer this interrogation with an enthusiastic " yes " by literally dancing with Joker himself while bathe in pale moonlight . This could be an ill omen for Harley ’s ultimate fate at the end of the film , see the tragedy that surroudned the query in 1989’sBatman .

3Joker 2’s Text Font And Color Inverts The Batman

The film may be acknowledging Matt Reeves' masterpiece

In 2022 , Matt Reeves’The Batmanstunned audience as one of thebest live - action Batman moviesmade in recent memory , crafting a striking visual modality of Gotham City with its satiny motion-picture photography and gear up pattern . Sadly , the film was confirm to have been set in its own isolated universe , unrelated to any pre - existent DC cinematic macrocosm or 2019’sJoker . However , Joker : Folie à Deuxseems to be paying its respects to the winner of the film , if not suggest at a greater connection entirely .

In promotional materials , The Batmanconsistently used a black and red colour scheme , throwing its striking rip - cerise logotype and title against sales talk black background knowledge . Joker : Folie à Deuxseems to be doing the opposite , using the same colors , but inverting them , with black text over a ruby background . This may be mere coincidence , but the similarities are backbreaking to unsee , and could be the result of a tip of the hat to Matt Reeves’The BatmanfromJoker : Folie à Deux .

2The First Film’s Iconic Stairs Dance Is Referenced

Joker: Folie à Deux certainly recognizes its audience

One of the most iconic vista from 2019’sJokerwas the curious solitary dance on a set of step Joaquin Phoenix ’s leading role does towards the ending of this mental breakdown , relishing in the chaos of give up on any Leslie Townes Hope of a normal life . Though implausibly poignant and muscular within the context of the movie , the scene go on to take on a life of its own , being the subject of uncounted memes and put-on far removed from the source material . disregardless , the upcomingJokersequel would be remiss not to at least briefly quotation this touch moment .

Sure enough , the puzzler dawdler forJoker : Folie à Deuxfeatures not one , but two character dance on a stairway . Joker and Harley seem to be savour a moment on a stairway towards the conclusion of the tormentor , sky-high kick their feet in a tandem terpsichore at the top of an imposing exercise set of stair lead up to what seems to be some kind of administration building , surrounded by protestors and police officers . Several other shots feature Harleen Quinzel climb stairs by herself , possible reflecting her ascension into the role of Harley by the end of the film .

1Harley’s Outfit Is Is Similar To Her Classic Look

Harley Quinn’s wardrobe is just as varied as Joker’s, if not more so

Harley Quinn ’s original outfit inBatman : The Animated Seriescertainly is n’t subtle , and would be difficult to accommodate for alive military action . The flashy grim - and - red fool outfit that Harley Quinn first appear in is a tough sell for any non - alive pic , let alone a pondering play likeJoker : Folie à Deux . Still , the plastic film seems to at least be paying its respects to the costume with one striking outfit Harley break at one point in the drone .

While confidently cut through a crowd , Lady Gaga ’s Harley Quinn bust a top with Harley ’s signature fatal - and - white diamond checker board design underneath a bright crimson blazer . This evokes Harley ’s original outfit when paired with the heavy black clown composition around her centre , referencing Harley ’s Fats Domino mask fromBatman : The Animated Series . Clearly , Joker : Folie à Deuxhas gone to large length to value the source material of its character while integrate them into its unique visual modality for Gotham City .

Joker: Folie A Deux official poster

Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker and a shot from the Joker Folie À Deux’s First Trailer

Custom Image by Sam MacLennan

The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) wearing a white suit against a dark background in Joker: Folie à Deux

Image via Warner Bros.

Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) makes a gun gesture with her hand and puts it to her head in Joker: Folie à Deux

Image via Warner Bros.

Aerial shot of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) looking up at the sky, escorted by four colorful umbrellas in Joker: Folie à Deux

Image via Warner Bros.

A man and woman stand in the snow in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg ending

Harley and Joker Dancing In Front Of Hotel Arkham Sign

Joker Opens Up to Harley Quinn in Batman The Animated Series

Jack Nicholson’s Joker Dies in Tim Burton’s Batman 1989

Robert Pattinson in The Batman poster and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker

Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) with jester-style makeup walks among a crowd of people and police officers in Joker: Folie à Deux

Image via Warner Bros.

Joker: Folie à Deux

DC Extended Universe