Joker: Folie à Deux deserves its own Gaga Cut, but Todd Phillips gets the last laugh

As a long-time comic book enthusiast and ardent moviegoer, I must confess that my excitement for Joker: Folie à Deux was nothing short of electrifying. The prospect of seeing Joaquin Phoenix reprise his Oscar-winning role as the Joker, coupled with Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn, had me counting down the days until its release. However, much like a Batman villain orchestrating chaos in the heart of Gotham City, Todd Phillips seems to have left a trail of disillusionment and frustration in his wake.

Todd Phillips switched up the rhythm when he ventured back into the realm of DC Comics for the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux,” a follow-up to his blockbuster hit “Joker.” At first glance, it seemed like he was headed towards financial success, but the film has fallen short at the box office and received harsh criticism. The original “Joker” (from 2019) held the title of highest-grossing R-rated movie ever made (until it was surpassed by “Deadpool & Wolverine”), so there were great expectations that its sequel might even outdo it, especially with Lady Gaga joining the cast as beloved character Harleen Quinzel, also known as Harley Quinn.

Similar to the initial Joker, Folie à Deux is set in a more realistic depiction of Gotham City; while we briefly saw a young Bruce Wayne (Dante Pereira-Olson) in the first film, there were no appearances in the sequel. The narrative primarily revolves around Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, who seems to be this world’s Joker…or at least that’s what fans initially anticipated. Given that Joker and Harley Quinn are among the most recognized characters in comics, viewers anticipated seeing a lot of the Harlequin of Crime alongside Phoenix’s portrayal of the downtrodden clown.

No laughing matter

It was surprising that despite “Joker: Folie à Deux” being billed as Arthur Fleck’s story, it appeared that Mr. J (Joaquin Phoenix) received more focus, leaving “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga) in the background. Fans have noticed several key scenes featuring her character that were removed from the final cut, such as a potential alternate ending and even an entire musical sequence. Now, a group of disappointed viewers are urging director Todd Phillips and Warner Bros. to reveal the “Gaga Cut.

Five significant scenes featuring Harley Quinn were reportedly cut from the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux,” and the first is a scene showing a smudged-faced Lee in an elevator. This image was later shared by Lady Gaga on Instagram after filming, and given that it provided one of our initial glimpses of the character, it’s not surprising that it became closely associated with her.

Another iconic shot included Lee and Arthur performing a big musical number on the courthouse steps. Although we never get to know what song they were singing, a shot of the pair in these outfits and performing kicks was so memorable that it was used as a promo poster outside cinemas in the United Kingdom. You can also see it in trailers, around the 2:20 mark below:

As a gamer, I’ve got a bit of inside scoop on why that heartfelt kiss between Harley and the female bystander during Arthur’s trial didn’t make it into the final cut of Suicide Squad. That tender moment, set against a backdrop of soft dance music as Lee walks into the courtroom, was undeniably intriguing and could have added depth to Lee’s character. But, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director David Ayer revealed that it was trimmed for pacing reasons, leaving some fans accusing the movie of LGBTQ+ exclusion. However, I personally think it adds a layer of mystery to what we ultimately saw on screen.

It had dialogue in it, and, all of a sudden, I wanted it to be more of a music and vibe moment. For that moment to have played, it needed dialogue behind it. Meaning, the woman said something, and then Gaga stopped and did this thing, and it just kind of got in the way of the moment.

In the initial film, there are two significant instances occurring on the towering staircase where Arthur performs his dance. A sneak peek into the making of the movie revealed Lady Gaga climbing these stairs; given her long hair styled by Bradley Cooper’s character (Lee), it’s evident this scene was filmed early in the storyline. Unfortunately, we missed out on an alternative ending. The filmmakers didn’t let us witness the full extent of Gaga’s musical talent without a doubt, as a video clip showcases her performing a lively jig and singing a more upbeat rendition of “That’s Entertainment”. This version suggests a less melancholic encounter between Lee and Arthur, which some fans have speculated might imply that Lee ended her life earlier in the movie. However, director Bradley Cooper clarified to Entertainment Weekly that this scene is real, unlike the fictional romance between Arthur and Zazie Beetz’s character Sophie.

Lady Gaga’s deleted scenes from ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (2024)
— Gaga Doing Things (@LGDoingThings) October 7, 2024

Release the Gaga Cut

Warner Bros. often revisits its DC films with fresh edits, such as Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which recently brought back the director’s original plan for the movie following his departure in 2018’s Justice League due to personal matters. Additionally, Suicide Squad‘s director David Ayer has hinted at a possible “Ayer Cut,” said to be significantly darker and offering a new perspective on Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker from that movie.

Despite being prominently featured as the main promotional figure for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Lady Gaga ended up having less screen time than initially promised, which has left many fans disappointed. Director Todd Phillips has faced criticism over this, and some are speculating whether the actors themselves might be dissatisfied with the film. Some fans have even attempted to decipher Phoenix’s comments using lip-reading techniques after the movie’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, hoping to hear him say “It’s terrible.” Regrettably, there seems to be no plan for a so-called “Gaga Cut” to be released.

It appears that reports suggest Phillips had no interest in working with DC Studios during the film production and even declined to conduct test screenings, indicating he may have finished his involvement with the story. Phillips told The Hollywood Reporter, “I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.” On the other hand, Lady Gaga expressed a desire for a potential Harley Quinn solo movie to Hits Radio, stating, “I definitely don’t feel done with Lee as a character.” However, it seems unlikely that this is on the horizon. In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips further stated, “It’s not really where this movie is headed for me.

It’s uncertain if Lady Gaga’s brief stint in her clown shoes for the movie is over. We’ll find out more when Joker: Folie à Deux gets its home release. There might be a wealth of cut scenes that enthusiasts could combine to create an unofficial extended version. For now, it appears that Phillips holds the upper hand regarding the elusive Gaga Cut.

2024-10-11 23:44