Warning: This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux.
The ending ofJoker: Folie à Deuxcontinues a surprising and unusual trend that has already been seen in Lady Gaga’s two previous major feature film appearances. Lady Gaga was cast in the sequel to Todd Phillips' 2019 smash-hit,Joker, set outside the mainstreamDC Universe, in August 2022, revealed to be bringing DC Comics' Harley Quinn to life opposite Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, a.k.a. Joker. WhileJoker: Folie à Deuxhas received some criticism,Lady Gaga’s performance as Lee Quinzelhas been widely praised, adding another entry into her strong filmography.
Lady Gaga is one of the world’s most beloved and best-selling music artists, andshe has proven her versatility time and again, which has translated brilliantly into her on-screen acting roles. Aside from small appearances inMachete KillsandSin City: A Dame to Kill For,Gaga began to make her name as an actor with her starring role inAmerican Horror Story: Hotelbefore taking leading roles in feature films. However, all ofLady Gaga’s major movie appearanceshave followed a similar, bizarre pattern, which spells bad news for her male co-stars.
Lady Gaga’s Last 3 Movie Co-Stars All Played Doomed Characters
Bradley Cooper, Adam Driver & Joaquin Phoenix Have All Starred Opposite Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has now had leading rolesin three major feature films, but in each of them,her male co-stars have portrayed characters who have passed away by the end of the movie. Gaga’s first leading movie role was as up-and-coming singer-songwriter Ally in 2018’sA Star is Born, who is taken under the wing of Bradley Cooper’s established star Jackson Maine. Ally’s skyrocket to stardom coincides with Jackson’s downfall, eventually culminating in him taking his own life. 2021’sHouse of Guccilater saw Lady Gaga’s Patrizia Reggiani order a hit against her husband, Adam Driver’s Maurizio Gucci.
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Joker: Folie à Deux
2024
2024’sJoker: Folie à Deuxcontinues this strange pattern for Lady Gaga, as the movie ends with Arthur Fleck being stabbed and killed by anotherinmate at Arkham Asylum, portrayed by Connor Storrie. Gaga’s Lee Quinzel had already parted ways with Fleck prior to his brutal murder, as she was disappointed in him renouncing the identity of Joker and confessing to his own crimes at the end of his elaborate trial.While all of Lady Gaga’s male co-stars have, so far, played doomed characters,Folie à Deuxputs a spin on this interesting trend.
Joker: Folie À Deux’s Tragic Ending Is Different To A Star Is Born & House Of Gucci’s
Joaquin Phoenix Portrayed Two Versions Of The Same Character In Joker: Folie À Deux
WhileJoker: Folie à Deuxdoes end with Arthur Fleck’s death, it’s not actually Fleck who Lee Quinzel falls in love with. Instead,Lady Gaga’s character is infatuated with Joker, but it’s not Joker who dies at the end of the movie, it’s Fleck. This puts a spin on the growing pattern displayed by Gaga’s male co-stars, as they have previously been Gaga’s characters' partners, but Arthur Fleck was not. Even so,Joker: Folie à Deuxstill continues this theme, and it remains to be seen whether Gaga’s next movie appearances will repeat it.
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.
