Todd Phillips Explains How Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn is Different From Margot Robbie’s

Harley Quinn, the beloved anti-heroine of the DC universe, is getting a new look and voice. Margot Robbie’s iconic portrayal has won the hearts of many fans, but the upcoming film ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ will feature Lady Gaga in the role. Director Todd Phillips shared insights into this casting choice in a recent interview with Empire Magazine, highlighting how Gaga’s interpretation of Harley Quinn will differ from Robbie’s.

Phillips acknowledged that while there will be familiar elements in Gaga’s portrayal, her characterisation will be quite unique. He drew inspiration from comic books but tailored the details to fit his vision. “It’s really Gaga’s interpretation, and Scott [Silver] and I’s interpretation. She became the way how [Charles] Manson had girls who idolised him. The way that sometimes these [imprisoned murderers] have people that look up to them,” Phillips explained. He also noted that Harley’s character is influenced by those who obsess over and idolise serial killers.

Also Read: Lady Gaga Says She Changed Her Breathing to Sing as Harley Quinn For ‘Joker 2’

The director emphasised the effort to make Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn distinct from past versions, stating, “I did my very best to, of course, be knowledgeable about all of the various interesting pieces that would arise as I was developing this character. But I really approached Lee from a place of, ‘What is this story? And what does she bring to Arthur’s life, for better or for worse?’”

Casting Lady Gaga brought a fresh dynamic, especially with the film’s musical elements. Phillips shared that it was the first time they were integrating a musical concept into a DC film, and Gaga’s musical talent made her the perfect fit.

Lady Gaga, in her conversation with the magazine, described ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ as a complex mix of genres. “It’s not one kind of genre, this movie. It’s a psychological thriller, it’s a drama, it’s a tragedy. It would be hard for me not to say that it has some comedy in it as well because I think it’s very funny. And it uses music in this extremely nuanced and particular way. I could see the needle that they were trying to thread when I read the script,” she said.