Joaquin Phoenix, who is undoubtedly a method actor, played his character once again on the set of Joker: Folie à Deux; some of his character’s antics even translated into real-life scenes. Harry Lotti, in a recent interview with Variety, talked about an on-set incident in which Phoenix, 49, pranked Lotti’s mother during a late-night FaceTime call while dressed as the Joker.
Lotti, who plays the Joker’s courtroom nemesis Harvey Dent, recalled that Phoenix suggested the prank call as a way to scare his mother. He explained, “My mom was in England, so it was pretty late, and she was getting ready for bed. And I said, ‘Hi,’ and then I brought the phone up to my face, and Joaquin put his head on my shoulder.”
The prank was ultimately successful as it resulted in Lottie’s mother running away. She said, “My mother screamed, ran out and woke up my father.”
Lottie, 27, also praised Phoenix and his commitment to the role. He spoke about watching Phoenix laugh and cough after every shot while playing the iconic and disturbing Joker. He praised the actor’s stamina and skill and called it an education in acting. Phoenix had deeply influenced the young British actor.
Joker: Folie à Doux chronicles the Joker’s time in Arkham Asylum. It follows Arthur Fleck as he tries to figure out who he is, falls in love, and discovers his passion for music. In the sequel, Lotti plays Harvey Dent and pits him directly against Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck. It stars Phoenix and Lotti alongside Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener.
While fans are expecting a lot of music and singing in this semi-musical sequel, Lovitty told the outlet that she didn’t have to sing. She said it was perfectly fine for her not to sing, especially since Lady Gaga was there. She said, “If there’s anybody in that room that should sing, it’s (Gaga). And to have a front row seat to that was a goosebumps moment.”
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie a Deux will release in theaters on October 4, five years after the release of the original film which won a total of 11 Oscars. It won a total of two Oscars, one of which went to Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor.
Also read: Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix’s much-awaited film Joker: Folie a Do opens to mixed reviews at Venice Film Festival