He was never that.
As portrayed by Phoenix, Arthur Fleck is a deeply disturbed man who becomes the Joker almost reluctantly.
Arthur has become this symbol to people, Phillips explained.
Thats always what hes been about, even though hes been pushed and pulled in all these directions.
So we tried to just make the most pure version of that.
And a love story.
Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio, Phillips explained.
Hes not a singer, and he shouldnt sound like a professional singer.
He should sound like somebody thats taking a shower and just bursts out into song.
However, Phillips also tried to distinguish the first Joker from the usual comic book movie fare.
WillJoker: Folie a Deuxindeed offer a radical different version of the Joker?
Or will it end up being another version of the familiar Clown Prince of Crime?
Phillips seems to already be confident in going a different way.
Joker: Folie a Deux puts on a happy face in theaters on Oct. 4, 2024.
