“Netizens React: Todd Phillips Claims Joaquin Phoenix Was Never Really The Joker, Should’ve Been ‘Arthur Fleck’”

Director Todd Phillips has recently stirred controversy among fans of the critically acclaimed film Joker by asserting that Joaquin Phoenix was never really “The Joker.”In a revealing interview with Entertainment Weekly on October 4, 2024, Phillips elaborated on the character of Arthur Fleck, clarifying that his role was never meant to embody the Joker persona.

“He’s always been Arthur Fleck; he’s never been this thing that’s been put upon him, this idea that Gotham people put on him, that he represents. He’s an unwitting icon. This thing was placed on him, and he doesn’t want to live as a fake anymore — he wants to be who he is,”Phillips stated.

This assertion has ignited considerable debate on social media, with numerous users expressing disbelief and frustration on X.

“Should’ve named the movie ‘Arthur Fleck’ then,”suggested one commenter.

“So the name of the movie is just a way to money grab and capitalize on a popular DC villain? Could’ve called this a thousand other names then,”remarked another user on X.

Many users pointed out the obvious connection between the film’s title and the character, suggesting it’s reasonable to view Arthur Fleck as a representation of the Joker. They questioned Phillips’s rationale in expecting viewers to dissociate the character from the film’s title.

“So if he’s never been the joker…why was the movie called Joker?,”pondered another user on X.

“He literally tells Murray to call him ‘Joker,’”quipped another netizen.

“There will only ever be one Joker don’t get it twisted 😭,”added another commenter.

Some users conveyed their feelings of frustration about unsolicited information regarding the film, while others humorously noted that those who attended the cinema might be considered the real “Jokers.”

“Everything I’m learning about this film is against my will,”complained one user on X.

“Everything he says about the Joker films makes me hate them even more,”expressed another.

“Those who watched Joker 2 in theaters are the real Jokers,”remarked one more user.

Disclaimer: The rest of the article may contain spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux.

Todd Phillips Shares Insights on Arthur Fleck Amidst Joker: Folie à Deux Release

As Joker: Folie à Deux, the much-anticipated sequel to the original Joker, premieres worldwide on October 4, 2024, excitement is palpable following the success and accolades received by the first film. In this sequel, Todd Phillips further explores his claim that Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was never an authentic joker.

During the recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Phillips reflected on a crucial moment from the first Joker film (2019), suggesting that the scene where a guard kills a child in a hospital acts as a significant catalyst for Arthur Fleck’s character development.

Phillips indicated that this moment leads Arthur to the realization that assuming the Joker persona—complete with makeup and costume—was ineffectual. He instead embraces his true identity as Arthur Fleck, reinforcing Phillips’s argument that Arthur never genuinely transformed into the Joker.

“When those guards kill that kid in the [hospital], he realizes that dressing up in makeup, putting on this thing, it’s not changing anything. In some ways, he’s accepted the fact that he’s always been Arthur Fleck,”Phillips explained, adding, “the sad thing is, he’s Arthur, and nobody cares about Arthur.”

This clarification is likely to play a significant role in the storytelling of Joker: Folie à Deux, offering deeper insights into the character’s complex identity.

According to The Independent, after the events of the newly released film, Arthur Fleck sets aside his Joker identity and returns to prison. Upon arrival, he is informed of a visitor waiting for him. As he follows the guard, he encounters another inmate, played by Connor Storrie, who asks him to tell a joke.

This interaction takes a sinister turn, resulting in the inmate stabbing Fleck in the stomach multiple times. The scene then shifts to show the inmate’s smile, evoking the iconic imagery associated with the Joker character, renowned for his grotesque grin and violent nature. Meanwhile, Fleck is left bleeding on the floor, highlighting the film’s exploration of identity and madness.

With the movie currently screening in theaters, it will be fascinating to observe how audiences react to Todd Phillips’s remarks regarding the character.

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