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Joker 2's Divisive Musical Approach Defended By Original Star Zazie Beetz
Original star Zazie Beetz defends Joker 2's divisive musical approach, feeling it makes "wonderful sense" and praising Todd Phillips' creativity.
With some finding the concept to be divisive, Zazie Beetz has taken to defending Joker: Folie á Deux's musical approach. The Deadpool 2 actor starred in Todd Phillips' 2019 thriller as Sophie Dumond, a single mother living in the same apartment building as Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck and initially serves as his love interest as he begins dating her following his first murder. It's ultimately revealed that Arthur's relationship with Sophie was a delusion as she finds him in her apartment after learning of the truth of his mother's dark past and asks for him to leave.
learning of the truth of his mother's dark past and asks for him to leave.
With the first Joker film proving to be a smash hit at the box office, grossing over $1 billion against its reported $70 million budget, talks of a sequel swirled for years, with co-writer/director Todd Phillips confirming his return this past June alongside co-writer Scott Silver and star Joaquin Phoenix with the working title Joker: Folie á Deux. Development has ramped up in the months since with Lady Gaga coming on to star as Harley Quinn and an October 2024 release date set for the sequel. While plot details have been largely kept under wraps, Joker: Folie á Deux has been described as a musical love story set in Arkham Asylum, a move that has largely divided fans of the comics, though one star is eager to see what comes from the approach.
While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss Bullet Train, Zazie Beetz shared some thoughts on the in-development Joker: Folie á Deux. In looking at the film's musical approach, which has proven divisive amongst audiences, Beetz defended the idea, praising Todd Phillips' "creative approach" to adapting the DC character. See what Beetz shared below:
"I actually think it makes wonderful sense. I wasn’t really surprised by that. Todd [Phillips] has always had a creative approach to the character. I love musicals, and I think of them as the characters are feeling and experiencing so much that they can only sing and dance about it, whether in sorrow or in joy. And I can actually see that within myself as well, because singing and dancing is quite a cathartic experience for me. I was going through a really, really difficult time at one point in my life, and I just started dancing and crying by myself. And that was an expression that matched where I was at that moment. And so I can see Arthur [Fleck], who is feeling and experiencing so much, dancing and singing about it. He’s the Joker, so I think it makes sense to me."
As Beetz notes, the first Joker movie saw Phoenix's Arthur Fleck as a very music-inspired character, frequently being seen dancing to music only heard in his own head. With this version of the DC Comics villain having such a personality, some have founded the musical approach for Joker: Folie á Deux to be both an understandable and interesting one, especially to help launch the love story of its titular character and Gaga's Harley Quinn. Given the latter is still best known for her music, as well as being an Oscar-nominated actress, it makes further sense that Phillips would want to capitalize on the multiple talents of Gaga for the Joker sequel.
While Beetz's defense is sure to ring positive for those excited about Joker: Folie á Deux's musical approach, it's also interesting to note that her comment of seeing a singing and dancing within herself may be a hint of her returning for the sequel. Despite her character's fate having seemingly been left unknown, Beetz recently said in her mind that Sophie survived the events of the first Joker movie, leaving the door open for her to return in the upcoming film, though should the story be set exclusively within Arkham Asylum, she would likely come back in another of Arthur's delusions. Only time will tell when Joker: Folie á Deux hits theaters on October 4, 2024.
