‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, the long-awaited sequel to 2019’s ‘Joker’, marks the return of Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck. This movie, directed by Todd Phillips, left audiences with a shocking twist that really changes both storylines into something much bigger than initially perceived.
While the sequel continues with Arthur’s storyline after his descent into madness in the first movie, it tends to take the story into a darker and even more complex place.The movie majorly centres on the murder trial of Arthur, where he gets convicted of his gruesome crimes. At the end, he is left in total despair, especially after Lee played by Lady Gaga, ends their relationship.
However, the big twist comes into play when a mysterious character known as the “Young Inmate,” played by newcomer Connor Storrie, seems to present himself within the storyline. As Arthur walks down the hall, he is stopped by the Young Inmate who asks him if he can share a joke. The scene ends with the inmate stabbing Arthur in the stomach. While he lies on the floor bleeding to death, the inmate then goes on to carve a Glasgow smile on his face, much like Heath Ledger‘s in Christopher Nolan‘s ‘The Dark Knight’.
This twist means Arthur Fleck was more of a motivating figure for the actual Joker aka the Young Inmate, who goes on to become the Batman villain.
In an interview with IGN, Joker director Todd Phillips shed light on the ending and twist of the film, addressing some common misconceptions. Phillips explained that many viewers were confused by the scene where Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) visits a young Bruce Wayne, leading to questions about how an older Joker could ever be a future nemesis for Batman. However, Phillips clarified that the film was never intended to depict the definitive
Joker origin story.
“The first film is called ‘Joker’, not ‘The Joker’. And in the script, it was always labelled ‘An origin story,’ never ‘THE origin story.’ It’s about the idea that maybe this isn’t the Joker we know. Maybe he’s just the inspiration for the Joker,” Todd explained.
The director elaborated on the character of Arthur Fleck, saying, “Our version of Joker, Joaquin’s Arthur, is not a criminal mastermind. That’s something we established in the first movie. If we never made a sequel, it would still be up to the audience to decide what Arthur becomes. But he’s not the Joker everyone grew up with. He’s someone who becomes an icon, and society puts expectations on him that he can’t live up to.”
Phillips also touched on the film’s final scene, noting Arthur’s internal hope that someone—perhaps Lee—might visit him. “I think Arthur finds peace in being himself, which is something he struggled with. He dies at peace in his own way, embracing who he is. When the kid says, ‘You want to hear a joke?’ Arthur, ever the optimist, agrees because he knows what it’s like to want to make someone laugh. He gives the kid that moment.”
‘Joker 2‘ is currently heading to score not only one of the lowest box office openings but also the lowest critics rating. The film which is a sequel to the Billion dollar 2019 original, will reportedly struggle to make it past the $50 million mark in its opening weekend.
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