Joker 2 director confirms big changes to Harley Quinn, and fans are divided

The highly anticipated sequel to Joker will introduce a completely new portrayal of Harley Quinn on the big screen, potentially exceeding fans’ expectations with its radical changes.

In an extensive conversation with Variety, director Todd Phillips opened up about the highly anticipated Joker sequel, revealing details about its development and storyline.

One of the most noteworthy remarks from their conversation centered on the portrayal of Harley Quinn, portrayed by Lady Gaga, in the film. Phillips revealed that they adopted a distinct approach to the iconic DC character, much like Phoenix’s Joker is unlike any previous iteration of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Todd Phillips discusses Lady Gaga’s take on Harley Quinn in #JokerFolieaDeux. https://t.co/NmOS73Xb53 pic.twitter.com/MWFx0a94QJ

— Variety (@Variety) August 20, 2024

“According to Phillips, we removed the high-pitched voice, accent, and sassy behavior commonly seen in comics. Our goal was for her to seamlessly blend into the gritty world of Gotham that we established in the first film.”

Some fans have mixed reactions to this, which is expected. For many, it is seen as a disrespect to the original Harley Quinn, a well-loved character who has successfully transitioned across various forms of media.

Originally introduced as a secondary character in Batman: The Animated Series, Harley was designed to prevent The Joker from solely relying on faceless henchmen. However, her immense popularity propelled her to become a prominent figure in comic books by the end of the decade.

Ever since, she has made appearances in various animated series, video games, and movies, solidifying her status as a force to be reckoned with, almost on par with the infamous Joker. However, Joker 2 will introduce a completely original portrayal of the character, leading fans to already dub her as “not Harley Quinn.”

However, there is also a lot of anticipation to see Lady Gaga’s performance in the role. She has already showcased her impressive acting skills in films such as A Star is Born, and her involvement in the jukebox musical, Joker: Folie a Deux, promises to bring something fresh and distinctive to the table.

The highly-anticipated film, Joker: Folie a Deux, will not hit theaters until October 4, 2024. In the meantime, you can learn more about the possibility of a third Joker film, why Arthur Fleck will never fully transform into The Joker, and the success of the Deadpool and Wolverine box office, which surpassed Joker’s previous record.