Lady Gaga is set to debut as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s return as his Academy Award-winning Joker in the initial trailer for "Joker: Folie à Deux," unveiled on Tuesday.
The sneak peek commences with Phoenix’s shackled and unadorned Joker – known as Arthur Fleck – being escorted through a facility where he's detained. While traversing the corridor, his gaze intersects with Quinn’s presence in what seems to be a choir room.
“I’m a nobody,” Gaga’s Quinn declares later, pantomiming a firearm to her temple before mimicking its discharge. “I haven’t accomplished anything in my life as you have.”
The footage progresses to depict the romantically entangled duo strolling together on the streets, evading explosions, fleeing from mobs, and exchanging kisses through Fleck’s prison bars, all accompanied by a chilling rendition of the timeless melody “What the World Needs Now is Love.”
“At least one thing’s different,” Fleck remarks at one juncture. “I’m not solitary anymore.”
In the realm of DC comic book mythology, the Joker and Harley Quinn frequently intertwine romantically, with Quinn initially portrayed as the villain’s therapist in Arkham Asylum.
Details regarding how director Todd Phillips will portray these iconic characters in his sequel remain undisclosed, but judging by his treatment of the Joker in the acclaimed 2019 film, it's evident that “Folie” will diverge from conventional comic narratives.
“Folie” also features performances from Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Zazie Beetz, portraying Fleck’s neighbor Sophie.
The billion-dollar-grossing motion picture “Joker” secured two Oscars in 2020, including one for Phoenix in the category of best actor.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” is scheduled to premiere in cinemas on October 4th.
