The sequel to the 2019 psychological thriller Joker brings Joaquin Phoenix back as Arthur Fleck, now joined by Lady Gaga who steps into the shoes of Harley Quinn, another popular character from DC Comics. This new chapter begins after the events of the first film.
Arthur finds himself in court facing trial for the killings he carried out previously. His defense attorney, played by Catherine Keener, makes a bold claim that Arthur and Joker are two separate identities. She argues that the traumas he suffered while growing up led him to create a different personality.
Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn steps in with sparks and secrets (Photo: Joker 2/Warner Bros.)This personality becomes a completely disconnected version of who he truly is. On the other hand, Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent, brought to life by Harry Lawtey from Industry, leads the prosecution. Comic fans would know Dent as the man who eventually becomes Two-Face.
The jury agrees with the arguments made by Dent and convicts Arthur for the murders. But just as the court proceedings move forward, an explosion erupts outside the courthouse, plunging the city into disorder.
Arthur briefly manages to escape thanks to help from two of his Joker followers, but he’s soon captured and returned to Arkham Asylum. Also, it looks like Harvey’s face is badly damaged by the explosion, which could be the beginning of his transformation into the villain Two-Face.
A Grim Conclusion
What follows the next day takes a violent and disturbing turn. Arthur is suddenly attacked by a fellow patient in Arkham who is laughing uncontrollably and seems completely deranged. The attacker, portrayed by Connor Storrie, tells Arthur a joke before stabbing him several times in the stomach.
Arthur collapses in a pool of blood and appears to die on the spot. As this happens, the unidentified man continues to laugh manically and uses a knife to carve a Glasgow smile into his face.
Plenty of DC enthusiasts believe that this mysterious character might be a tribute to Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker from The Dark Knight, especially since both characters have the same disfigured mouth scars.
Despite that, it’s unlikely there’s any actual link between them, as Todd Phillips’ Joker films and Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy are set in entirely separate timelines and fictional settings. Ledger’s Joker never really revealed where he got his scars, often changing his story.
At one point, he claims his alcoholic father gave him the scars during a drunken rage, and at another moment, he blames himself, saying he disfigured his face after his wife was scarred by gangsters. Nolan’s film is set in the 2000s, while Joker and Folie à Deux are rooted in the 1980s, making any crossover very unlikely.
Storrie’s role seems more like a nod to Ledger’s performance than an actual character connection.
What the Future Might Hold for Joker
It’s becoming clear that Phoenix might be stepping away from the Joker character after Folie à Deux. These two Joker films stand alone, with no ties to Matt Reeves’ version of The Batman or the reimagined DC
Universe currently overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Because of that, there doesn’t seem to be any plan to revisit Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker. The next appearance of the Joker in a live-action film could come from Barry Keoghan, who showed up briefly at the end of The Batman.
There’s a chance he might return in the sequel directed by Reeves, which is expected to arrive sometime in 2026. Stream this fan-favorite drama exclusively on Amazon Prime whenever you’re ready.
