Lady Gaga took to Twitter to confirm rumors she’ll be joining the “Joker” cast for the sequel, set for 2024.
The first “Joker” was released in 2019 with Joaquin Phoenix playing the lead role that won him an Oscar for best actor. Phoenix is locked for the sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” to continue his unique portrayal of title character.
In June 2022, Gaga’s name started circulating among media outlets as someone who should play Harley Quinn if the “Joker” were to release a sequel. Word got out about the film’s continuance when director Todd Phillips posted the cover to a screenplay to his Instagram on June 7: " Folie à Deux.”
For the Joker to continue in his growth, there are two characters that have to be introduced — Batman and Joker’s twisted love interest, Harley Quinn. Quinn has been played by Margot Robbie for three movies: “Suicide Squad,” “Birds of Prey” and “The Suicide Squad.” Why the change from Robbie to Gaga?
Phillips decided to change the role of Quinn to Lady Gaga based on previous sales of the other Warner Bros. adaptations of Harley Quinn that casted Robbie. Since the films didn’t produce how the studios wanted, they decided to go a different route. With this change, the new Quinn role will be “darker” and less “playful.”
It’s unsure if Robbie was notified about the role prior to the Gaga announcement. Robbie is currently working on “Barbie,” where she’s playing the title role alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken. OK Magazine said they spoke to someone close to Robbie who said the actress, who has yet to comment.
“Margot isn’t angry about the choice; she is insulted,” the friend said. “This isn’t about casting the most talented person for the role, but rather casting someone who gets the most press attention.”
Phillips’ first “Joker” was a box office hit in 2019, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing movie in history. “Joker: Folie à Deux” is set to release October 4, 2024.
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