The actor has highlighted the difficulties he has suffered in maintaining a specific weight to play the Joker.
Joaquin Phoenix, one of the most committed actors in Hollywood, has recently declared that will not undergo extreme physical transformations again after his experience with “Joker: Madness for Two”. These kinds of drastic changes to embody Arthur Fleck, the disturbing character from the Joker saga, have made it clear to him that it is a physical and mental burden that he is no longer willing to bear.
Phoenix was notable for losing 23 kilos for the first delivery of Joker in 2019a challenge he repeated for the sequel, but at an even greater cost. Although he claims that he did it in a “safe” way, during a conference at the Venice Film Festival, he revealed how difficult this process was for him.especially considering his age. “I probably shouldn’t do this again. This is probably the last thing for me,” the actor said, reflecting on the demanding physical preparation required for the role.
The extreme diet of Joaquin Phoenix in Joker 2
In the first film, the Oscar winner explained that his diet consisted primarily of lettuce and steamed vegetables, which gave him that gaunt look so characteristic of the Joker. However, for Joker: Madness for TwoPhoenix faced a new challenge due to the intense dance rehearsal sessions which he had not had in the previous film.
Phoenix mentioned how exhausting it is to obsess over reaching a specific weight for a role. “You spend all your time working to get to a certain weight, and then you end up talking about it, and it sounds like you’re bragging about how much weight you’ve lost,” the actor said. “By the end of it all, I was so sick of myself for making so much drama out of that part.”
The physical transformation also affected Lady Gaga
It wasn’t just Phoenix who underwent a significant physical change. Lady Gaga, who plays Harley Quinn in the film, also went through a remarkable transformation process. Phoenix recalled that Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta had lost a lot of weight during rehearsals“It was really impressive,” Phoenix said of his co-star’s dedication.
Gaga also mentioned that they both slowly transformed into their characters, perfecting every detail over time.. This highlights the level of commitment that both actors put into their respective roles, not only emotionally, but also physically.
Will there be a third Joker movie?
The first movie of Joker It was an unprecedented success, grossing more than Billion dollars at the global box office and winning multiple awards, including the Oscar for Best Actor for Phoenix. Although a sequel was not initially planned, the connection that Phoenix and the director Todd Phillips’ feelings towards Arthur Fleck’s character led them to develop Joker: Folie à Deux.
The second film, which includes musical elements and explores the relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn, is highly anticipated by fans. However, both Phoenix and Phillips have hinted that this could be the final installment in the series. “It was fun to play in this kind of territory for two movies, but I think we’ve said what we wanted to say in this world,” Phillips said.
The final sequel
Although many are hoping to see more of the Joker universe, it seems that Joker: Madness for Two will close the story of Arthur Fleck. The film will be released on October 2 in several countries, followed by a US release on October 4.
Joaquin Phoenix’s commitment to his role in Joker: Madness for Two It has been impressive, but his recent statements make it clear that lExtreme physical transformations are no longer part of their future plansThe combination of intense weight loss and demanding preparation for the role has led him to reflect deeply on the boundaries he is willing to cross in the name of art. For fans, the on-screen result will undoubtedly be a memorable performance, but for Phoenix, this will be his last major physical change for a role.
