Even before Joker: Folie a Deux released, there were set videos that leaked of Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn kissing a lady protester before she entered the courthouse. A lot of fans thought it really informed this version of Harley, but it didn’t make its way to the final cut of the film. So what gives?
Talking to Entertainment Weekly, director Todd Phillips explained that while they did shoot the scene, he ultimately had to cut it because it ruined the flow of Harley’s triumphant march into the courthouse. He says:
“It had dialogue in it, and, all of a sudden, I wanted it to be more of a music and vibe moment … 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.”
For context, the scene that was cut involved a protester shouting at Harley, telling her, “You’re going to hell!” to which Harley grabs her, kisses her forcefully in the mouth, and says, “Now we’re both going.” It felt like such a great character moment for Harley, so you can imagine some people’s disappointment that it didn’t make it to the final movie.
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn kissing a woman in Joker is everything I never knew I needed. pic.twitter.com/Yrgr5lKee3
— berry (@sckberry) March 27, 2023
With the movie’s reliance on vibe and visuals though, I do understand how the kiss would have definitely taken some momentum out of the scene—which was supposed to focus rather on Harley Quinn’s fixation on Arthur.
Besides that kiss, a lot of things also didn’t make it into the final film. There was supposed to be a whole song and dance sequence at the staircase which turned out to be Harley’s final scene with Arthur. Plus, there was also the scene from the trailer where Harley and Joker walk out of the courthouse steps dancing together.
So, supposedly they filmed 3 different endings for #JokerFolieADeux in case the real one (which “it did”) leaked and they decided to NOT GO WITH THIS ONE??? pic.twitter.com/mMQao2A4LE
— Damien 🃏 (@GagaUnderMike) October 5, 2024
Hopefully we get a better look at some of the cut scenes down the line. But as of now, Folie a Deux has an uphill battle at the box office, being plagued with terrible reviews. On the other hand, more people are coming out to support the film, but will it manage to last another week in theatres to account for good word of mouth?
Joker: Folie a Deux is now showing in cinemas.
