Singer Lady Gaga Considered Altering Her Image for Joker Sequel: Twin Madness
Fresh Take:
Get ready for October's suspenseful sequel, "Joker: Folie à Deux," which brings back Joaquin Phoenix's chaotic Arthur Fleck, joined by none other than pop sensation Lady Gaga, taking on the intriguing role of Harley Quinn, alias "Lee." This dynamic duo is set to wreak havoc in Gotham City.
Speaking to Empire Magazine about her part in the movie, Gaga described her interpretation of Harley as a shift from her usual flamboyant style, particularly during the film's musical sequences. "I'm not what this movie is; I'm playing a character," she stated. To nail Lee's raw, unpolished singing style, Gaga had to set aside the technicality of her pop star prowess, focusing on channels from Lee instead of herself.
With a few rough notes along the way, Gaga revealed that she experimented with her singing to better fit the character, approaching it more as an extension of dialogue than a traditional musical number.
Unlike the original Harley Quinn, who was a manipulative psychiatric intern in love with the Joker, "Lee" is a music psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum, caring for its inmates. Director Todd Phillips shared that the character incorporates elements of Harley, but is predominantly Gaga's personal interpretation, along with co-writer Scott Silver's input.
Phillips likened the character to real-life women who idolized violent murderers, emphasizing that they took aspects of Harley Quinn from the comics and adapted them to suit the movie.
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Behind the Scenes:
Lady Gaga'sPORT performance as Harley Quinn in "Joker: Folie á Deux" was the result of a deep dive into method acting, involving both physical and emotional transformations. Key aspects of her acting style, musical sequences, and character development include:
- Physical Transformation: Gaga lost between 15 and 20 pounds through an intense diet and fitness routine to portray a raw, disturbing, and human version of Harley Quinn.
- Mental Preparation: To handle the psychological aspect of the role, Gaga utilized daily meditation, trauma-informed therapy sessions, journaling, sensory deprivation, and silence periods.
- Musical Elements: The film features musical numbers, marking a daring move by director Todd Phillips to differentiate the film from typical comic book movies.
- Integration with Storyline: The musical sequences in the film are likely to delve into the characters' emotional states and relationships, given the film's jukebox musical elements.
- Character Interpretation: Gaga's Harley Quinn is a manipulative, amoral character who is grounded in reality but embodies a complex mix of love and obsession for the Joker.
- Relationship with Joker: The relationship between Harley and the Joker plays a crucial role in Arthur's emotional journey and the film's narrative.
- Departure from Classic Harley: To avoid clichés, Phillips deliberately rejected classic Harley Quinn mannerisms, aiming to create a more realistic and psychologically complex version of the character.
- Lady Gaga's performance in the upcoming movie "Joker: Folie à Deux" showcases her ability to transform physically and mentally, taking on a grittier version of Harley Quinn.
- Gaga's approach to her role includes an intense diet and fitness routine, daily meditation, trauma-informed therapy sessions, and sensory deprivation, among others, to capture the psychological aspects of her character.
- The movie will feature musical numbers, marking a departure from typical comic book movies, with musical sequences likely to delve into the characters' emotional states and relationships.
- Despite echoing elements of the classic Harley Quinn, Gaga's interpretation of the character in "Joker: Folie à Deux" is primarily her own, with co-writer Scott Silver's input, deviating from common Harley Quinn mannerisms in favor of a more realistic and psychologically complex portrayal.