In 2006, Joaquin Phoenix was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in 'Walk the Line,' a role that demanded he perform Cash's iconic songs. Phoenix finally won the Oscar in 2020 for his role as Arthur Fleck in 'Joker.' However, his prior musical experience did not make filming 'Joker: Folie à Deux' any less challenging. Director Todd Phillips revealed that the pressure of shooting the sequel's complex musical sequences made Phoenix physically ill. During an interview with EW, Phillips mentioned that Phoenix 'was sick every day' due to nerves, as the film required him to sing and dance alongside co-star Lady Gaga.
Phillips also praised Gaga, who plays Harley Quinn in the film, for offering Phoenix valuable advice that boosted his performance in those scenes. In return, Phoenix provided Gaga with suggestions that enhanced her acting. 'The truth is, they gave each other pointers,' Phillips recalled. 'He'd give her pointers about acting; she's been in movies, but he's Joaquin Phoenix. She gave him tips about music because she's Lady Gaga. It’s what movies should be: a giant collaboration.'
Phillips further discussed his hesitation in labeling 'Joker: Folie à Deux' as a musical. 'I got a little heat for saying it's not really a musical,' Phillips said. 'I wasn't saying that because I'm afraid of the term, 'musical.' I love musicals, and the movie definitely has music in it. It might even be a musical. To clarify, most of the times I've ever seen a musical, I walk out feeling better than I did when I walked in. On this movie, I'm not sure it's the same thing. I wouldn't want to be misleading and say you're going to be whistling the songs from this movie on the way to your car after you see it.'
Earlier this week, Gaga announced that she had recorded a concept album to accompany 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' which is set for release on Friday, September 27. The film itself will hit theaters a week later on Friday, October 4.
