Warning! This article contains spoilers forJoker: Folie à Deux.
Joker: Folie a Deuxwas a very different movie to the 2019Joker, with many of the original cast being entirely absent in the sequel. The long awaitedJokersequel was one of the most anticipated superhero movies. However, since it’s release, it’s proven to be one of the most critically panned superhero movies to date.
While the movie clearly had a new agenda from the original, the film reflects these changes with a new setting, the introduction of new central characters, and the removal of several familiar faces from the original. With the movie now setinside Arkham State Hospital, with some variation when Arthur goes on trial, itwouldn’t make sense for some of the characters from the earlier film to appear. However, this does further increase the distance between the films.
9Dante Pereira-Olson
Young Bruce Wayne
WhileJokerclearly set itself apart from other Batman movies, there was a brief appearance from The Dark Knight himself, albeit, before the tragedy of his parents' death occurs. Dante Pereira-Olson plays ayounger version of Bruce Waynewho still has both of his parents, and resides in the large Wayne Manor on the outskirts of Gotham. However, when he appears, Arthur Fleck approaches the gates with a clown nose and a bizarre performance, scaring the young boy.
Which DC movie was better - Joker or Joker: Folie à Deux?
Joker: Folie à Deux is a very different movie from the original Joker. The choice to make the DC sequel a musical was already a divisive one, but with the movie having little excitement and a simple story, it is hard to find some element in it that manages to beat the 2019 film. Both movies also had two very different endings. While 2019’s Joker concluded with what seemed like Arthur Fleck fully becoming the Joker, Folie à Deux does the opposite, leading to an anticlimactic affair.
Later in the movie, he returns again after Fleck’s outburst on live television sparks riots around the city. Amidst the panic and chaos, Bruce walks through an alley with his parents, and they are shot down in a robbery gone wrong. Presumably, when the events ofJoker: Folie à Deuxare playing out,Bruce is traveling and refining his abilitiesto eventually become the Batman.
8Douglas Hodge
Alfred Pennyworth
After a brief interaction with Bruce, Arthur draws the attention of the indispensable Alfred Pennyworth, who works for the Wayne’s. Alfred has frequently appeared in otherBatmanfilms and TV shows as the humble butler, andonly true friend to Bruce Wayne, who retreats beneath his identity as the Batman. Considering his long history with the Wayne’s and his having known Bruce from his birth, it makes sense for Alfred to remain by his side even when his parents are killed.
Bruce Wayne’s parents also were not featured inJoker: Folie à Deux, but since they were killed at the end ofJoker, this would not have been possible anyway.
However, just like young Master Bruce, Alfred is nowhere to be seen in the sequel. Whether he travels with Bruce, or tends to the house in his absence is unknown, but he has no reason to engage with the deranged Arthur Fleck after their last brief encounter.Alfred asked Arthur to leave at the gateswhen he noticed him speaking to Bruce, but in Arthur’s heightened state, he attempted to choke Alfred before fleeing.
7Unknown Actor
Joe Chill
While Bruce became an orphan at a young age, the man responsible for his parents' death managed to get away with his identity hidden inJoker. In the aftermath of Arthur’s appearance on the Murray Franklin Show,city-wide riots break out as people don clown masksand seek to cause anarchy. One such man in a clown mask met Bruce’s parents in that same alley where they were trying to avoid detection with their son. However, the masked gunman shot and killed them both, leaving them for dead, and Bruce without his parents.
Everything In Joker That’s Not Real
As the highly-anticipated Joker movie finally hits theaters, the audience is left wondering exactly how much of what they saw actually happened.
In the comics and various other adapted forms, this man is widely known to be acriminal named Joe Chill. Whether that translates to theJokermovie is unclear, but regardless, no character by this name appears in the sequel. Unfortunately, the credits and other sources have kept the identity of this actor a well guarded secret, so neither the actor nor character can be determined.
6Shea Whigham
Detective Burke
AsJokerdeveloped, Arthur Fleck’s mental state slowly deteriorated until he snapped and began a kiling spree. The inciting incident was when Fleck met and murdered three Wayne Enterprises employees who tried to abuse the mentally unstable Arthur due to his clown outfit. After this incident, there was a lot of police attention on the high-profile murders, andDetectives Burke and Garrity were the primary officers assigned to the case.
Shea Whigham played Burke, and considering his thorough investigation into Arthur, it would have made sense to bring him back forJoker: Folie à Deux. However, the movie decided to rely on other people to develop the case and act as witnesses. Considering his own misguided actions in Joker, when heshoots another innocent clown while pursuing Arthur, perhaps it was best he didn’t get called to the stand.
5Bill Camp
Detective Garrity
Partnered with Burke, Bill Camp played Detective Garrity.Garrity was another faithful Gotham detective, but he had a considerably cooler head than Burke. While Burke accidentally shot and killed a passerby in a clown mask, and incited aggression and violence from the clown cult, Garrity manages to keep calm and come out with clean hands.
Joker’s Director Told You Exactly How Folie à Deux Would End 5 Years Ago
Joker: Folie à Deux’s ending has proven itself controversial, and the DC movie’s major finale reveal was shared by its director five years ago.
Garrity could have been a very effective witness to call up thestand inJoker:Folie à Deux, considering his intimate knowledge of the case, and his being at the center of struggles when riots broke out.Garrity’s absence in the film isn’t given any clear explanation, but there were plenty of other law officers involved in the sequel who made life a living hell for Arthur once he was captive.
4Marc Maron
Gene Ufland
Marc Maron is a popular comedian who has performed, written and produced numerous films and projects throughout his career. Within the world of Joker,Maron was cast as a producer on the Murray Franklin Showwho has some interaction with Arthur Fleck in the moments before he appears on the live show, and commits the heinous murder of the host.
While Gene Ufland does not appear in the movie in person, he is the author of a book about the murder of Murray Franklin, which Arthur signs for a prison guard.
As producer Gene Ufland, his primary purpose is to ensure the show is as engaging and entertaining as possible. In order to do this, he books guests who are likely to elicit reactions, but he was not aware of just how inciteful Fleck’s appearance would be for the citizens of Gotham. Again,Ufland could have appeared in the trial, helping to add a first-hand account to the killing of Murray Franklin, but he was absent in the sequel.
3Sondra James
Dr. Sally
Sondra James is an actress whose career in film extends back to 1982. She has played minor roles in a wide variety of TV shows and films, and inJoker, she was cast as Dr. Sally,another guest onthe Murray Franklin Show. She was also in attendance on the fateful night when Fleck stands up and shoots Murray across his own desk. In fact, she was sitting in a prime position, right beside Fleck as he was being interviewed.
Every Joker: Folie A Deux Trailer Scene Cut From The Movie
There are several scenes from Joker: Folie à Deux’s trailers and set footage that weren’t seen in the actual theatrical cut of Todd Phillips' sequel.
While her role was minor, and she had very little to add to the plot of the movie, again, shemay have been a prime witness in the caseagainst Arthur Fleck. However, considering the fact that the incident played out live on TV, there was no need to prove that the murder happened, simply how, and why it happened. Dr. Sally may have only briefly interacted with Fleck, but she could have been a valuable witness.
2April Grace
Arkham Psychiatrist
While Debra Kane served as the primary social worker for Arthur Fleck before his crimes, once he was captured and admitted to Arkham, hemet with a new psychiatrist. April Grace, an actress who has been cast in a number of other DC projects for small roles, includingConstantineandLuciferprior toJoker, returns to appear inJokeras the last psychiatrist who interacts with him in the movie. At this point, Arthur has committed several counts of murder, and she is there to assess his mental state.
It’s likely that her assessment was pivotal in detaining Arthur, and sending him to a State Hospital rather than a full-blown prison. However, inJoker:Folie à Deux, she is nowhere to be seen. Arthur does have a visit with a psychiatrist in Ward B, and another psychiatrist is brought in to the trial to give a character statement, although he only ever spent 90 minutes with Fleck.April Grace’s psychiatrist likely had vital insight to his stateimmediately after he was captured, but she was not present in the sequel.
1Josh Pais
Hoyt Vaughn
Finally, there was one more figure who had a closeconnection to Arthur inJokerbut was absent in the sequel. Hoyt Vaughn was the detestable and constantly frustratedman who ran the clowns for hire business that Arthur worked forprior to the murders. Vaughn was played by Josh Pais, who is also a very prolific TV actor with over 100 credits to his name. As Vaughn, he was the man who fired Fleck after an incident where he brought a gun to a children’s hospital, and swiftly fired him as a result.
I Finally Understand Why Lady Gaga Said Joker 2 Wasn’t Really A Musical
Having seen Joker: Folie á Deux, I now understand Lady Gaga’s comments that the movie isn’t a musical (but that doesn’t mean I like the reason why).
While Vaughn’s actions were completely warranted, and it would be a huge risk to keep a man who would do such a reckless thing on his books, his firing of Fleck likely played a role in Fleck’s resulting actions. Of course, he is in no way at fault, but Arthur’s mental state was such that it pushed him over the edge. Vaughn may have been too afraid to show his face in a courtroom with Arthur, and potentially felt that he was partially responsible, but either way, his absence inJoker:Folie à Deuxmakes perfect sense.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Cast
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
