During a recent press event attended by Collider’sSteve Weintraub,Joker: Folie à DeuxdirectorTodd Phillipsand co-writerScott Silveropened up about the process of bringingLady Gagaon board for the highly anticipated sequel. The conversation revealed fascinating insights into how the multi-talented star was cast in the role, and Phillips shared his thoughts on what makes Lady Gaga such a unique presence on set.
When asked about the process of recruitingLady Gaga for the film, Phillips reflected on his previous connection with her through his work onA Star is Born, where he served as a producer forBradley Cooper’sdirectorial debut. “I was lucky enough to know her because I was a producer on Bradley [Cooper]’s movie,A Star is Born,” Phillips explained. “So it wasn’t impossible to send her a text and say, ‘Scott and I have been working on this thing.'”
Phillips described the creative process behindJoker: Folie à Deuxas being quite different from the first film. “I’ll say this,the first movie we wrote forJoaquin Phoenix; we started writing this not knowing who that character would be,” Phillips said. “But the more we kind of fell into this, quite frankly, musical aspect of the film, the more she kept popping up in my head. I remember one day I said, ‘What do you think about this?'”
The Lightbulb Moment for ‘Joker: Folie á Deux’
Silver recalled the moment Phillips suggested Gaga for the role. “He said, ‘This is gonna be crazy, but how about Lady Gaga?’ I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s perfect. Of course!'”
After the idea was floated, it was up to Gaga to make the decision. “Then, she had to make the decision. You’d have to ask her how hard it was for her to make the decision, but for us, once I came to him with it, I was like, ‘What do you think?’ And then we were just all on board,” Phillips continued. Fortunately, his prior relationship with Gaga made the initial outreach less daunting. He explained:
“But luckily I met her and worked with her. That’s Bradley’s movie, but I worked with her a little bit and knew her, at least, and so it wasn’t that out of place.”
Phillips then shared the moment when he andPhoenix, who reprises his role as the Joker, met with Gaga to discuss the project. “Then Joaquin and I went out to Malibu where she was, and we had a meeting with her, and we talked to her. It was really kind of amazing.” The director also spoke candidly about the unique presence that Gaga brings to a project, saying:
“I mean, it’s weird with people like that because I’ve worked with big actors — I worked withRobert Downey Jr.,and he’s as big as it gets — but there’s something about somebody like Lady Gaga that’s on a different level than an actor. They come with something totally… I don’t know, I can’t explain it. You do feel it when you’re with them.”
However, Phillips was quick to note that Gaga’s larger-than-life persona never interfered with her work on set. “But the amazing thing about her is she just strips that all away pretty quickly, and suddenly she’s just another actor in the movie. That really was helpful for me, but also for Joaquin.”
As anticipation builds forJoker: Folie à Deux, it’s clear that Gaga’s involvement adds a new dimension to the film, one that promises to be as mesmerizing and unique as her own multifaceted career.Joker: Folie à Deuxwill dance its way into theaters on October 4. you’re able to get more details about the film withour guide here.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux explores Arthur Fleck’s ongoing struggle with his dual identity as he unexpectedly discovers love and unleashes his hidden musical talent. Set against a backdrop of societal unrest, Arthur’s journey intertwines personal transformation with chaotic encounters, leading to profound shifts in his life and the world around him.
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