Lady Gaga “started laughing” as Joker: Folie à Deux reactions came in, because they were “just getting so unhinged”

Following the original’s success as one of the top-grossing R-rated films of all time, anticipation soared for Joker: Folie à Deux. Unfortunately, the sequel fell short of achieving that same standard, both critically and financially, and Lady Gaga, who portrays love interest Harleen ‘Lee’ Quinzel in the feature, recalls finding the response rather absurd.

She reminisced about the experience for Rolling Stone, addressing how she processed being involved in something so polarizing. “I wasn’t, like, indifferent,” she states. “It’s amusing; I’m nearly hesitant to express my reaction. But the reality is, when it initially began happening, I burst out laughing. Because it was becoming so chaotic.”

While a vast audience was drawn to the brutality and chaotic essence of Joker, the responses were nearly the opposite for Folie à Deux. Transforming it into a musical was a daring decision from the outset, with the set-pieces and grand spectacle making the overall presentation significantly more lively than its dark and gritty predecessor, not to mention diminishing the beautiful, somber strings of Hildur Guðnadóttir.

Director Todd Phillips, who co-penned the screenplay for Joker 2 alongside Scott Silver, evidently envisioned a different concept for how a sequel should appear compared to many of Joker’s enthusiasts. With a mere 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both reviewers and the general public, Joker: Folie à Deux concluded its theatrical run with a worldwide intake of slightly over $207 million, a significant drop from the billion-dollar-plus earnings of its predecessor.

Fairly speaking, Gaga was exceptional alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck in the distorted gothic hallways of Arkham. She infused remarkable energy into the musical performances, harmonizing perfectly with Phoenix. The persistent stream of criticism directed at the film did take a toll on the multi-talented artist.

“When it takes a while for something to sort of fade away, that can be somewhat more painful,” she adds. “Mainly because I invested so much of myself into it.” Gaga is set to reprise her role on the big screen next year in The Devil Wears Prada 2.

To ensure you don’t overlook any significant films worth watching, keep our upcoming movies guide at hand.

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and gaming journalist, currently located in Glasgow. He formerly held the position of Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, in addition to contributing to outlets like Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many others. Alongside Studio Ghibli, horror films, and The Muppets, he relishes action-RPGs, heavy metal, and professional wrestling. He once interviewed Animal, although he won’t stop talking about it.