Todd Phillips has explained why a scene where Lady Gaga’s Lee kisses a woman while walking up to the courthouse didn’t make it into the final cut of Joker: Folie à Deux.
Joker: Folie à Deux was released in United States theaters this past weekend. A sequel to 2019’s Joker, the film, directed by Phillips, sees Gaga play Harleen “Lee” Quinzel, while Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker.
In the second half of the movie, Lee is released from Arkham Asylum and then repeatedly goes to the Gotham courthouse to support Arthur during his trial. At one point, Lee performs a musical number as she’s entering into the building.
According to Entertainment Weekly, a version of this scene was filmed where Lee stops by a group of protestors and kisses a woman standing in the crowd. It was, however, ultimately removed from the final cut.
What did Todd Phillips say about the cut kissing scene in Joker: Folie à Deux?
“It had dialogue in it, and, all of a sudden, I wanted it to be more of a music and vibe moment,” Phillips said of why the scene was cut. ”For that moment to have played, it needed dialogue behind it. Meaning, the woman said something, and then Gaga stopped and did this thing, and it just kind of got in the way of the moment.”
Phillips also discussed how Gaga and Phoenix “gave each other pointers” when working on the film’s musical scenes.
“He’d give her pointers about acting; she’s been in movies, but he’s Joaquin Phoenix. She gave him tips about music because she’s Lady Gaga. It’s what movies should be: a giant collaboration,” he said.
Along with Phoenix and Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux stars Catherine Keener, Brendan Gleeson, Harry Lawtey, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Leigh Gill, and more.
Joker: Folie à Deux is now playing in United States theaters.
