Warning: This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux.
The ending ofJoker: Folie à Deuxmight have explained some of the mystery surrounding Heath Ledger’s Joker in 2008’sThe Dark Knight. Set outside the mainstreamDC Universe, Todd Phillips’Joker: Folie à Deuxcontinued the story of Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, a troubled failed comedian who is loosely based on DC Comics' Clown Prince of Crime.Joker: Folie à Deuxhas received a mixed response, with some criticizing the lack of Joker action, but the movie’s ending might have revealed exactly why Fleck never really let loose as the Joker.
Instead of fully establishing him as the Joker,Arthur Fleck instead accepts that he was never destined to become the Joker inJoker: Folie à Deux. Fleck confesses his crimes in front of the jury following his elaborate trial, much to the dismay of Lady Gaga’s “Lee,“Joker: Folie à Deux’sHarley Quinn. The symbol of the Joker was thrust on Arthur Fleck inadvertently in 2019’s Academy Award-winningJoker, but while Arthur Fleck was never supposed to become the Joker,Joker: Folie à Deux’sendingsuggests a different version of the villain will rise in his place.
Joker: Foile À Deux’s “New Joker” Could Reveal The Dark Knight Villain’s Origin Story
Joker: Folie À Deux May Have Ended With The Rise Of A New Joker
Somewhat anticlimactically,Joker: Folie à Deuxends with Arthur Fleck being stabbed to death by a namelessinmate at Arkham Asylum, portrayed by Connor Storrie. Interestingly, while Fleck lies bleeding to death,Storrie’s inmate uses his blade on himself, carving a Glasgow Smile into his face, which is instantly reminiscent of the scars on the face of Heath Ledger’s Jokerfrom 2008’sThe Dark Knight. Storrie’s inmate’s aggressive and twisted “joke” and repetition of Fleck’s"you get what you deserve"quote also reflect the mythos and violence of Ledger’s Joker.
How Did The Joker Actually Get His Scars?
Heath Ledger’s Joker had many particularities, such as scars on his face that formed a permanent “smile” – but how did he get those scars?
Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightintroduced the lateHeath Ledger as the Jokeropposite Christian Bale’s Batman, and he quickly became one of the most notable and beloved depictions of the DC Comics villain in live-action. The origin story of Ledger’s Joker was never truly revealed inThe Dark Knight, but Todd Phillips may have implemented this story into his own dark and gritty version of Gotham. While this connection hasn’t been confirmed,it’s very possible that Storrie’s Arkham Asylum inmate is, in fact, a younger version of Ledger’s Joker, taking over in Arthur Fleck’s absence.
Joker 2 Setting Up A New Joker Would Explain Details About The Dark Knight
The Joker’s History Prior To The Dark Knight Is Still A Mystery
The Dark Knightnever explained the Joker’s origins or backstory prior to meeting Batman and corrupting Harvey Dent.The Joker offered several possible origin stories, including one featuring an abusive father or one involving a gambling-addicted wifewho claimed he should"smile more,“both somewhat explaining his characteristic Glasgow Smile. This multiple choice backstory could be explained if Heath Ledger’s Joker was not actually the original, as he may have taken on the backstories of hisJoker predecessors, including Arthur Fleck.
The Dark Knightwas a posthumous release for Heath Ledger, who tragically passed away in January 2008. Ledger’s second and final posthumous movie was 2009’sThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam.
Connecting Heath Ledger’s Joker to Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips’Jokerduology also explains the villain’s influence and power in Gotham City. Fleck started a full-on revolution, and amassed a huge following of thousands who wanted to see change in the city.Even after Fleck’s death, his following would still be there, so a new Joker, perhaps Heath Ledger’s, could easily recruit some of these followers for himself, despite his tendency to quickly turn on them. This would also explain whyBruce Wayne was a child in 2019’sJoker, as Arthur Fleck simply wouldn’t have beenhisJoker.
Joker 2’s The Dark Knight Crossover Theory Does Have Some Plot Holes
The Dark Knight & Joker: Folie À Deux Don’t Exactly Match Up
There are several problems when trying to connectThe Dark KnightandJoker: Folie à Deux, which could prove this Joker theory wrong. Perhaps most notably, Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart inThe Dark KnightandHarry Lawtey inFolie à Deux, is very different in both movies, and has a different origin story as Two-Face. Additionally,the death of the Wayne family in 2005’sBatman Beginsand 2019’sJokeris also quite different, though both still follow the same trajectory as Batman’s origin story in DC Comics.
Joker 2’s 10 Biggest Unanswered Questions
Joker: Folie à Deux is a mind-bending sequel to 2019’s more universally praised Joker, and has left a lot of questions that remain unanswered.
Despite these plot holes, this is still a very fun and interesting theory, and the fact thatJokerandJoker: Folie à Deuxare told from Arthur Fleck’s perspective could still allow for some possibilities.Arthur Fleck is a well-known unreliable narrator, with many parts of Todd Phillips' duology taking place entirely in his mind. This means that not everything the audience sees is actually happening, which could allow for some wiggle-room when suggestingConnor Storrie’s Arkham inmate may actually be Heath Ledger’s Joker.
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.
