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While there’s not much we can divine from these shots, there are a few compelling notes. Once again, we have confirmation that the movie takes place in the 1980s, and the heavy fog shows that Gotham is still the grimy place it was in the previous film. The warm clothing suggests a winter setting, which has served as the background for some pretty great Joker stories, including the Batman: The Animated Series classic “Christmas with the Joker.”
Perhaps the most interesting bit comes from footage taken from the set, showing the bundled-up Quinzel in action. The few seconds of video find Quinzel about to enter her era-accurate vehicle before deciding otherwise. Turning toward a shop front, she smashes its window and pulls out a portable television, running away with bystanders watching.
Although petty larceny has never been part of the story, the scene tracks pretty well with Harley’s established origin. First introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, Harley was psychologist Harleen Quinzel, who was working at Arkham Asylum when she was assigned to the Joker. Probing the depths of the Joker’s twisted mind broke Quinzel, eventually driving her to become Harley Quinn. As Harley has grown in popularity over the years, creators have sought to break her free from the “abused girlfriend” aspect of her story, giving her a romance with Poison Ivy and fully breaking up with the Joker, as seen in Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad.
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Judging from the set photos, it appears that Joker: Folie à Deux returns Harley back to her roots. But given Lady Gaga’s undeniable on-screen energy, it seems unlikely that she’ll be the same victim portrayed previously.
Joker: Folie à Deux releases October 4, 2024.
