Joaquin Phoenix And Todd Phillips Discuss Reuniting With Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir For ‘Joker’

Todd Phillips’ highly-anticipated sequel ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, sees the return of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Ahead of its release, Phoenix and Phillips spoke about reuniting with Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who crafted the powerful score for the original ‘Joker’.

Phoenix shared that Guðnadóttir’s music played a crucial role in developing his character, saying, “Her score was a huge part of the first film. 

Image Courtesy: Pinkvilla

I found the character while listening to her music on set. It’s special when something comes alive like that, and to have it captured on film.” This deep connection between music and performance made her return essential.

Phillips echoed this sentiment, saying, "That was a no-brainer! There was no version of this film without Hildur." The director further explained that her music was like a second character in the first film, and for the sequel, they began collaborating early. Guðnadóttir not only read the script but also worked on arrangements of iconic songs, infusing them with her signature style.

Phoenix expressed his excitement about Guðnadóttir’s involvement once more, highlighting how her music became intertwined with the character. “It was exciting to know she was coming back,” he said, noting that the score was essential in expressing Arthur’s inner world.

Both Phillips and Phoenix emphasised the importance of Guðnadóttir’s music in shaping the emotional core of the film, with new versions of familiar themes adding depth to the sequel’s storytelling.

-Sushmita Sarkar