Lady Gaga is set to be the highlight of the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, as the event hosts the premiere of her new film, the dark and provocative ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’. Her presence might even overshadow the excitement generated by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, whose red carpet antics on Sunday for their film ‘Wolfs’ were a festival highlight.
The 2019 film ‘Joker,’ directed by Todd Phillips, redefined the superhero genre with Joaquin Phoenix portraying Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian spiraling into mental illness. Set in a grim Gotham City and loosely based on DC Comics characters, the film was a massive box office success, earning $1 billion and drawing controversy for its bleak depiction of violence. It also won the Golden Lion at Venice and a Best Actor Oscar for Phoenix.
In the sequel, Lady Gaga takes on the role of Harley Quinn, the Joker’s partner in crime and romantic interest, who meets Fleck while he awaits trial for his previous offenses. Her character’s voice-over in a teaser for the film asserts, “He’s not sick. He’s perfect.”
Phillips has stated that the sequel aims to delve into the theme of identity, questioning the origins of the music within Fleck. “If we were going to do it, we knew we had to swing for the fences; we wanted to create something as crazy and fearless as Joker himself,” Phillips noted.
On Wednesday, Gaga will join Phoenix and other cast members for a press conference before stepping onto the red carpet for the film’s world premiere. ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is competing for the Golden Lion, one of the top awards at the Venice Film Festival, which is celebrating its 81st edition this year.
The festival, known as ‘La Mostra,’ has been brimming with Hollywood glamour, with stars like Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Michael Keaton making appearances. The event concludes on Saturday.
