Lead actor Joaquin Phoenix is giving fans an inside look at the highly-anticipated “Joker” sequel “Folie à Deux” and what it was like taking on the unexpected task of singing alongside pop icon Lady Gaga. In an exclusive new interview with Empire magazine, Phoenix opened up about the challenges of flexing his musical chops for the role and working with Gaga to bring their complex characters to the next level.
“Singing was definitely a stretch for me,” Phoenix told Empire. But he found an encouraging partner in Gaga. “She was so supportive and helped bring out the best in my performances.” Phoenix’s first attempt apparently got quite a rise out of Gaga – “I do seem to remember her spitting up coffee the first time I sang,” he joked.
But laughter aside, Phoenix took the musical additions to his iconic Joker character seriously. He focused on capturing Arthur Fleck’s vulnerability through his vocal performances rather than striving for technical perfection. “It was important to me that he sounded more like someone bursting into song in the shower rather than a polished performer,” Phoenix explained.
Director Todd Phillips aims to further blur the lines between psychological thriller and musical with around 15 cover songs and one or two original compositions featured throughout the sequel’s eclectic score. While plot details are still under tight lock and key, early reports hint that Broadway standard “That’s Entertainment” may get the Joker treatment.
As for Gaga, she’s teed up to launch the highly anticipated big screen version of her own pop icon character, Harley Quinn. But the star was quick to note she’s fully immersing herself in the role rather than playing herself. “Harley is such a complex character and I’m dedicated to doing her justice on film,” Gaga told Empire.
With its powerhouse leads and creative direction from the director/writer team that brought us the record-shattering first film, “Folie à Deux” looks primed to offer audiences another unforgettable descent into Arthur Fleck’s unraveling psyche when it hits theaters this October.
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