A Mad Show
It’s hard to imagine Gotham City as the landscape where an “almost” musical is set. Still, the director of Joker 2, Todd Philips, might have introduced a revolutionary concept in the DC movie universe. With the pop star Lady Gaga starring as Harley Quinn and, for the second time, Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, could we see them twirling on the fine line that divides justice and madness?
The great and long-awaited sequel to Joker, interpreted by Phoenix, is right around the corner, hitting big screens worldwide this October. This time, his emotional rollercoaster won’t be a solo ride, as it will be accompanied by the one and only Lady Gaga, the original queen of “monsters”. The audience has already greatly welcomed the news, as many believe that the spot of Harley Quinn couldn’t have been better fulfilled; the first film had a dark tone, portraying the original birth of the Joker in the most realistic way, in a metaphorical city that mirrors our contemporary society.
scene from the movie trailer “Joker 2: Folie à deux via Vogue France
This time, Philips aims to surprise DC fans by shocking the world with a film where music plays a central role, almost like a musical. This means Gaga won’t be bringing into the scene only her acting skills but also her well-known outwardly singing gift. From the first scenes of the trailer, her character slightly reminds us of the origins of Ally in “A Star Is Born”: scenes of dancing and singing in pubs allude to cabaret shows where the criminal duo captivates the public, probably resonating with those living in the same condition and sparking that fire needed for a social change. After all, what is more powerful than music in carrying such a political and disruptive message?
The most intriguing aspect will be how their relationship develops in such a realistic light, as we’re used to seeing them fall in love through madness and escapes in action Hollywood-made films where the focus has always been more on special effects and adrenaline. This time their characters will be portrayed in a more intimate way, allowing us to see them as two ordinary people climbing their way to the top of the justice system, fighting for their ideals in an elitist pyramid. This past spring, some behind-the-scenes footage was revealed, showing a recreation of Joker’s iconic dance scene on the stairs to the notes of The Hey Song, composed by Gary Glitter in the ‘70s during the age of glam rock, with Harley Quinn by his side, hand in hand. In an interview with Variety, the director revealed that Joker 2: Folie à deux will be leaning towards a jukebox musical, featuring at least 15 reinterpretations of well-known songs. There is still a huge veil of mystery over the tracks, but one of them could potentially be “That’s Entertainment”, inspired by another great musical of the ‘50s. However, Lady Gaga is not the only golden pen in the composition of the sound aspect of the project (who will most likely have composed some originals, after the acclaimed soundtrack of the film with Bradley Cooper), since Hildur Guðnadóttir, who won an Oscar for her introspective and haunting tunes for the first Joker, will most likely capture the audiences throughout the narrative for “Folie à deux”.
The trailer is soundtracked by “What the World Needs Now Is Love”, recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1965, probably hinting at the historical context of the soundtrack. Will the songs be pillars from the '60s, ‘70s, ‘80s? Or will they lean towards more modern times, connecting their powerful message to contemporary global political issues and controversies? The only certain thing we can expect is a tango of madness, infused with heart-wrenching melodies, complicity, rebellion, and chaos, where music will be the true vessel for every emotional high and low. After all, revolution is not only made with words.
