Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie a Deux has finally hit theatres, with Joaquin Phoenix returning as Arthur Fleck in this highly anticipated sequel to his 2019 Joker. This time, Phoenix is joined by Lady Gaga, who portrays Harley Quinn, another iconic DC Comics antagonist. Fans are buzzing with reviews and according to several reports, one particular scene has sparked significant discussion due to its parallels with Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.
Before proceeding further, be aware that this article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie a Deux.
The sequel picks up after the events of Joker, where Arthur is on trial for the murders he committed in the first film. His lawyer, played by Catherine Keener, argues that Arthur and Joker are two separate personalities. The lawyer emphasises that his Joker persona emerged due to years of childhood trauma. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent, portrayed by Harry Lawtey, presents a strong case. Dent, who later becomes the villain Two-Face in the comics, convinces the jury to convict Arthur of murder.
Just as the trial progresses, a bomb explodes outside the courtroom. Arthur briefly escapes with the help of two followers but is soon recaptured and sent back to Arkham Asylum. A chilling scene follows when a young inmate who has been observing Arthur throughout the film, confronts him. The inmate stabs Arthur repeating the infamous line by the Joker himself, “You get what you deserve!” As Arthur dies, the unnamed psycho laughs uncontrollably and carves a Glasgow smile into his face with a knife as the film reaches its disturbing conclusion.
As per the reports, many DC fans speculate that Arthur’s killer in Joker: Folie a Deux could be a tribute to Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight due to their similar mouth scars. Since Phillips’ Joker and Nolan’s Batman trilogy are set in different universes, it is unlikely that there is any direct connection between the two characters.
In The Dark Knight, Ledger’s Joker came up with various explanations for his scars. He claimed at one point his cuts were due to his father. In another instance, he claimed he harmed himself after his wife got injured over gambling debts. The film’s setting in contemporary times is very different from the 1980s backdrop of the Joaquin Phoenix-starrer, indicating the character portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix is likely just a tribute to Ledger’s famous portrayal.
Meanwhile, it seems Phoenix is done with his role after Folie a Deux, especially given the horrific ending of his character in the sequel. Both the Joker films are stand-alone and are separate from Matt Reeves’ The Batman and the new DC Universe created by James Gunn and Peter Safran making it unlikely for Phoenix’s character to return. The next live-action Joker may appear when Barry Keoghan reprises his role from the post-credit scenes of The Batman in Reeves’ sequel set for 2026.
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