Steve Coogan pops up in ‘Joker 2’ trailer – and fans are very surprised

10 April, 2024

Steve Coogan - CREDIT: Tim P. Whitby

The official trailer for Joker 2 arrived this week (April 9) and fans were left surprised after comedian and actor Steve Coogan appeared in the first teaser of the film.

Yesterday, Warner Bros. released the first look at Joker: Folie à Deux, which will premiere in UK cinemas from 4 October.

Joaquin Phoenix will resume his unique and complex portrayal of the iconic DC villain, a performance which earned him the Oscar for Best Actor in the movie. In the second movie however, the character of Arthur Fleck/Joker is no longer alone, teaming up with his comic book sidekick and lover, Harley Quinn, who is played by Lady Gaga.

Fans also spotted Coogan in the trailer who appears briefly in the 30-second teaser clip.

It’s unclear who Coogan is playing, but footage shows the character questioning the joker implying that he could be a psychologist at the facility where the Joker is, or prison staff. You can see the moment here:

Fans on social media have been reacting to the news, with one writing “I can’t believe we live in a world where Steve Coogan and Lady Gaga are in a film together,” while another added: “Steve Coogan being in the Joker 2 trailer for 2 seconds is the strongest case for the film I’ve seen. Imagine what would happen if Alan Partridge met The Joker…”

Check out some more of the reaction to Coogan’s surprise appearance here:

In terms of Lady Gaga’s character, the trailer suggests that director and co-writer Todd Phillips have veered slightly off the DC origin story of Harley Quinn, in which she is a psychologist at Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum, where we leave Joker at the end of the first movie. In Folie à Deux, it appears that Harley Quinn is herself a patient at the psychiatric facility, where she becomes close with Phoenix’s character.

The trailer teases a quick glance at Gaga in the iconic Harley Quinn outfit, complete with a jester-inspired costume and dark circus makeup. Gaga can be heard in the trailer saying the lines: “I’m nobody. I haven’t done anything with my life like you have.”

It has been rumoured since the announcement of the sequel’s development, that the film would be a musical. The trailer teases scenes involving dancing, stage performances, and a dramatic scene in which Arthur/Joker is leaning over a microphone under a spotlight.

However, when the trailer dropped after Warner Bros.’ presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas yesterday (Tuesday 10), Phillips clarified that it is not a full musical, but music will be an “essential element” to the movie (via IGN).

Also joining the cast for the second movie will be Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, Get Out’s Catherine Keener and Ken Leung, known for his roles in Lost, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Sopranos.

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