The first image featuring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux was released for Valentine’s Day. Many fans were excited by the all-new sneak-peek at the film. Other fans, however, were disappointed to see Harley Quinn with Poison Ivy rather than Joker
Originally, Harley Quinn was often portrayed as Joker’s abused lover. This was especially the case with her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series. More recent films and television shows, however, have followed Harley Quinn as she breaks up with Joker and in some cases starts a relationship with Poison Ivy. This particular relationship has become the basis of the HBO Max series Harley Quinn.
As such, many DC fans have come to know Harley Quinn as Poison Ivy’s love interest rather than Joker’s. And, as a result, they’re disappointed to see that Joker: Folie à Deux will be focusing on Harley Quinn and her relationship with the titular clown rather than Poison Ivy.
Here are some of the responses saying as much on Twitter:
Harley Quinn is literally with Poison Ivy now ….like it’s canon…but the str8s keep shoving Harley and the joker down our throats pic.twitter.com/QnlkYfacIr
— ᴺᴹ rihmoominaɉ ❖ (@AbKaviar) February 15, 2023
I know it’s early and it just came out, but man some of the responses to this image make me nauseated.
“True love” “me and my partner when _______”
Here goes Harley and Joker being seen as an ideal relationship again 😩 pic.twitter.com/tfobivtNhl
— Lauren| Friendly NBHD Bi (@FriendlyNBHDBi) February 15, 2023
y’all I love lady gaga sm but it’s time to move on from harley and joker’s relationship and move on to her endgame which is poison ivy like I don’t give a shit about this abusive man please give margot her poison ivy this girl has been asking for it for years https://t.co/v24UN6D9lu
— bia | eras and prima facie broadway in june core (@bia_barato) February 15, 2023
This picture just screams ‘I’m going to ra*e her later’ Harley Gaga, get an ivy to beat this crybaby joker’s ass! #Harlivy
Keep in mind that this joker is in his 50s in this movie and Harley is probably in her late 20s 🚩🚩🚩also is anyone getting sick of seeing this story? 🙄 pic.twitter.com/AW6eed5QIb
— Caittie Cat ✊🏿🏳️🌈✨|| ४ supervillain fangirl♦️ (@Timexturner) February 15, 2023
Very torn with this Gaga Harley business. Love Gaga, love Harley, hate the Harley Joker relationship for always. Please let this end with her and Poison Ivy kissing and doing crime
— Tori Fox❤️🔥 (@theMandaTorian) February 15, 2023
Although there are some fans that are happy to see the classic tale of Joker and how he met Harley Quinn:
Todd Phillips posted this picture from Joker 2 with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn! I’m so excited✨ As the biggest Harley Quinn fan, I know that Lady Gaga is absolutely going to smash this role! pic.twitter.com/7g4LSi0sgi
— Grimm Quinzel🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@harleenphd) February 15, 2023
I am so excited for it. When I first heard about it, I didn’t think I’d be excited for it much but now I am VERY excited ❤️ I know it will be great. Lady Gaga will be a great Harley Quinn and Joaquin Phoenix is already a great joker #FolieADeux pic.twitter.com/wD4iCJT7IB
— Margo ♡ (@NellieLaRoy_) February 15, 2023
As always, we’ll just have to wait and see how people respond to the finished film. After all, Todd Phillips’ first Joker film received similar criticisms before its release. It soon enough become a box office and critical success. It’s very possible that the majority of audiences will feel the same way about the upcoming DC comic adaptation Joker: Folie à Deux.
Todd Phillips is currently returning from his work on Joker to direct the sequel, which he co-wrote the screenplay for alongside Scott Silver.
Joker: Folie à Deux, AKA Joker 2, is slated for release on October 4th, 2024. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for additional updates on this highly-anticipated sequel as we have them. It’s definitely shaping up to be an interesting expansion of what the previous Joker film was.