Behind the scenes of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’: A glimpse into Joaquin Phoenix’s dedication
A prank gone wrong
On the set of “Joker: Folie à Deux”, Joaquin Phoenix’s commitment to his role was so intense that he stayed in full makeup even during casual moments. This dedication led to an unexpected and hilarious incident involving his co-star, Harry Lawtey, who plays Harvey Dent.
“Joaquin suggested, as a joke, that we FaceTime my mum and scare her,” Lawtey recalls. “My mum was in England, so it was quite late, and she was getting ready for bed. I said, ‘Hello,’ and then I brought the phone up to my face, and Joaquin put his head on my shoulder. My mum screamed, ran away, and woke up my dad.”
A master class in acting
Despite the occasional prank, Lawtey was in awe of Phoenix’s performance. “To watch him do that laugh and to see the effect on him — on everyone — blew my mind,” Lawtey says. “He would be coughing after each take. It was an education to watch him move through different flavors and shades of that performance.”
The anticipation builds
The “Joker” sequel is set to hit theaters on October 4, just days after the Season 3 finale of Lawtey’s hit HBO series “Industry”. The series, which chronicles the debauched antics of young investment bankers in London, has been a significant part of Lawtey’s career. The addition of Kit Harington to the cast has only increased the show’s popularity, with the Season 3 premiere seeing a 60% increase in viewership over the previous season’s debut.
“We developed a bit of a bromance,” Lawtey says of his friendship with Harington. “He’s such a fun guy. He doesn’t take himself seriously at all.”
An unexpected opportunity
In the fall of 2022, HBO had just renewed “Industry” when Lawtey taped an audition for “Joker 2” director Todd Phillips. He didn’t expect much to come of it. “I didn’t have any information about the part,” he says. “So I just recorded a self-talk with my friend and sent it off. And then a couple of weeks later, I had a Zoom call with Todd. My team assumed it would be kind of a note session for [a second read], but he offered me the part on that Zoom straight away.”
Crafting a unique Harvey Dent
As he prepared for “Joker”, Lawtey avoided watching previous Harvey Dent performances from actors like Aaron Eckhart, Billy Dee Williams, and William Shatner. “I built my own backstory and created my own through-line, so I could authentically stand in those shoes,” Lawtey notes. “Todd kept on instilling in me that [Harvey] has his eyes on the prize. He spoke about how the era was the dawn of televised trials. And his notion was that Harvey is someone willing to use that cynically to his advantage.”
A musical twist
Though this “Joker” is a musical, and Harvey is a courtroom showman, Lawtey doesn’t sing. And maybe that’s for the best. “I mean not singing in front of Lady Gaga is something that I am OK with,” he says. “If there’s someone in that room who should be singing, it’s her. And getting a front-row seat for that, it was a goose-bumps moment.”
Links to explore
For those eager to dive deeper into the world of “Joker: Folie à Deux”, you can watch the trailer here. And if you’re curious about “Industry”, check out the trailer here.
This article offers a unique perspective on the dedication and behind-the-scenes moments that make “Joker: Folie à Deux” a highly anticipated film. It also highlights the exciting developments in “Industry”, showcasing the dynamic careers of its talented cast.