'Joker' sequel reveals first look of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn
The Joker isn't complete without his Harley Quinn by his side, and Lady Gaga is here to snazz up the role.
Todd Phillips, the director for the upcoming sequel of 2019's Joker, has shared the first look of the singer-turned-actress playing the role of the Joker's sidekick and love interest, Harley Quinn.
The still shows Gaga pinned to the wall and seemingly staring in awe at the Joker, who is played by Joaquin Phoenix, as he looks back at her with a subtle smile on his face.
"Happy Valentines Day," Phillips captioned the post, which is a bit ironic considering the nature of the two characters' relationship is tainted with abuse in the comics. The Joker is depicted as habitually mistreating Harley, who nevertheless returns to him despite the abuse.
Gaga first revealed that she will be a part of the sequel, titled Joker: Folie à deux, back in August last year when she posted a short video showing silhouettes of her and Phoenix slowly dancing over a red background. An instrumental version of the jazz standard “Cheek to Cheek” could be heard playing in the background before it is interrupted by the Joker's famous laugh.
Joker: Folie à Deux
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 4, 2022
10.04.24 pic.twitter.com/obp7T9lBFL
Gaga is the newest actress to portray the psychiatrist-turned-villain after Margot Robbie, who took on the role for three films in the DC Extended Universe, namely Suicide Squad, its standalone sequel, and Birds of Prey.
Speaking with MTV News in October, Robbie said that she was pleased that Gaga had been cast to play the same character as her.
"It makes me so happy because I said from the very beginning, all I want is for Harley Quinn to be one of those characters, the way like Macbeth or Batman always gets passed from great actor to great actor," she said.
She added, "It's such an honor to have built a foundation strong enough that Harley can now be one of those characters that other actors get to have a go at playing. And I think [Gaga will] do something incredible with it."
Joker: Folie à deux is set to premiere on Oct. 4 next year and is rumored to be a musical. Alongside Phoenix and Gaga, the film will also feature Catherine Keener, Brendan Gleeson and Zazie Beetz.