Joker 2 Set Photos: 6 Reveals About The Story, Harley Quinn & More

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Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker, and though plot details are still unknown as the movie is still in production, set photos and videos have revealed some exciting details about the story, Harley Quinn’s (Lady Gaga) role, and more. Joker was a critical and commercial success, and while it also drew a lot of controversy due to its graphic violence and the themes it addressed, that didn’t stop Warner Bros. from greenlighting a sequel, though one very different from the first movie.

Titled Joker: Folie à Deux, the movie will be a musical psychological thriller, which has raised many questions about the tone of the movie, the story, and mostly, what Harley Quinn’s role in the story will be. Production on Joker 2 began on December 10, 2022, with Phillips sharing the first look at Joaquin Phoenix’s return as Arthur Fleck/Joker, and as a Valentine’s Day treat, the first look at Gaga’s Harley and Arthur was revealed. Filming continues as of March 2023, and as expected, various set photos and videos have been shared on social media, and some of these reveal a couple of details about Joker 2’s story, Harley’s role, and other characters who might have a big role in the movie.

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The last time the audience saw Arthur Fleck, he was speaking to a therapist at Arkham Asylum, laughing at his own joke and refusing to share it with his therapist, telling her she wouldn’t get it. Arthur then left the room and left behind a trail of bloodied shoeprints as he was chased down a corridor by an orderly. This made the audience wonder if the ending of Joker really happened or was the product of Arthur’s imagination, and while Joker 2 is confirmed to be set in Arkham Asylum, this doesn’t mean that Arthur has stopped having hallucinations, and a set video showing more than one Joker might confirm this.

A video shared on Twitter (via @thwipT_) shows Phoenix’s character running down a street in the city as he’s chased by not one but two other Jokers, one of them wearing the red suit Arthur wore to Murray Franklin’s show at the end of Joker. While it could be possible that Arthur is being chased by Joker copycats, as many theories have suggested, it’s more likely that Arthur is imagining the other two Jokers. The title Joker: Folie à Deux mains “madness of two”, hinting at the exploration of Arthur and Harley’s mental state, so it’s more plausible that Arthur has reached a point in which he’s imagining being chased by two other Jokers, who might actually be past versions of himself.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1632169869780156416

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Arkham Asylum will be a key setting in Joker 2 now that Arthur is there as well as Harley Quinn, but not even Arkham will be safe from destruction. A set video shared on Instagram by ladygaganownet shows Arkham Asylum on fire, and given what’s known about Arthur and Harley Quinn, it’s assumed that they are the ones behind this. It’s possible that setting Arkham on fire will be Arthur and Harley’s only way out, which will in turn allow other criminals to escape. The Arkham Asylum fire being provoked by Arthur and Harley would be more proof of how dangerous and toxic their relationship is, as they are willing to go to extremes for each other and their relationship, without caring if they hurt or kill others in the process.

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One of the biggest reveals in the photos from the set of Joker 2 that have been shared online is Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn costume. Although photos of Lady Gaga on set had already been shared, showing her in big coats and with no makeup, a batch of photos showed Gaga in full Harley Quinn costume and makeup, and it’s heavily inspired by the character’s iconic harlequin costume. The photos show Gaga with black yet light clown-like eye-makeup, red lips, and wearing black checkered stockings, black leather mini skirt, a black and white corset-like checkered shirt, and a red jacket. Harley Quinn’s costume in Joker 2 follows the example of Arthur’s Joker costume in the first movie, which is reminiscent of the Clown Prince of Crime’s traditional look but with a unique twist, giving it a darker and more realistic look while also referencing the source material.

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While Harley Quinn’s costume is reminiscent of her iconic suit in Batman: The Animated Series and other media, her story might not be that similar. Twitter user @gagaimages shared three photos from the set of Joker 2, one of them showing the cover of Gotham Examiner with the headline “Crazy in love” and a photo of Arthur as Joker in Murray’s show and Harley’s mugshot. The photo not only confirms that Gaga’s character is the real Harley Quinn (as it shows her full name, Harleen Frances Quinzel) but also that Joker 2 is making a big change to her story and instead of meeting Arthur as his doctor, she will be a patient at Arkham, too. The doctor-patient relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn, while classic, has already been explored in other media, so this is an interesting twist that fits Phoenix’s Joker a lot better.

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Other photos from the set of Joker 2 show protests claiming justice for Joker and to free him. At the end of Joker, Arthur’s murderous actions at Murray’s show triggered riots all over Gotham City, and among the consequences of these was the murder of Martha and Thomas Wayne. Joker has a lot of supporters now, so with that in mind, it’s not totally surprising that people will protest for his freedom in Joker 2, but this collective perspective will surely put Gotham in a lot of danger. One of the protest signs reads “He can save us”, and with Arthur in Arkham, this might prove those theories about Joker copycats all over Gotham right, perpetuating or even increasing the crime rate in Gotham, and it could get even more dangerous once Arthur and Harley escape from Arkham if that’s what the fire leads to.

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Among the many signs at the protest is one that confirms the existence of a major Batman character and one of his most famous enemies: Harvey Dent a.k.a. Two-Face. One of the signs reads “Harvey Dent is the Clown”, so Dent could be somewhat involved in the Joker’s trial or pushing to keep him in Arkham. Now, as there has been no casting announcement for Harvey Dent in Joker 2, he might not have a big role in the story, but at least the audience will know that he exists in the universe of the Joker. If Arthur and Harley’s story continues after Joker: Folie à Deux, this universe could see Harvey becoming Two-Face, which would be a very interesting version of the villain as Arthur and Harley are proof that Todd Phillips has a unique way of bringing Batman’s villains to life.

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