Brendan Gleeson has joined the ‘Joker’ sequel to work with Joaquin Phoenix.
The 67-year-old actor took part in ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ and revealed that he joined the Todd Phillips film to collaborate with Phoenix after the two starred together in the 2004 film ‘The Village’.
Brendan confirmed that the success of the original film, with Joaquin claiming the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker, also played a role in persuading him to take the role.
When asked how the ‘Joker’ sequel appealed to him, he told Collider: “It wasn’t the material, which is a great way to avoid having to answer criteria questions.
“It was the achievement of the first movie. I worked with Joaquin before on ‘The Village’… And I’ve known him ever since.”
Brendan continued, “And that performance, I’m still in awe. That performance as Joker, in that first movie. It was one of the most extraordinary achievements I’ve ever had.
“And for Todd to have worked on the movie to allow that, I didn’t have to be asked twice. I really didn’t.”
Lady Gaga has been cast in the sequel as Harley Quinn and Margot Robbie, who played the Joker’s love interest in three films, loves the idea of the character being conveyed by “great actors”.
The 32-year-old actress said: “It makes me really happy because I said from the beginning, all I want is for Harley Quinn to be one of those characters, the way Macbeth or Batman always goes from being a great actor to being a great actor.
“And I feel like in a lot of cases they’re not female characters.
“Queen Elizabeth I, but beyond that, which I also had a chance at, which I was honored to do. I was like, ‘Wow, Cate Blanchett did Queen Elizabeth I. Now I can do it.'” “
