Actor Joaquin Phoenix shared that he almost lost his mind because of the harsh weight loss process to become skinny when playing the villain Joker

5 years ago,  Joker hit theaters and created a global fever with a revenue of more than 1 billion USD and the 2020 Oscar for Best Actor Joaquin Phoenix. On October 4, the 50-year-old actor returned to theaters in part 2  Joker: Folie À Deux  ( Joker: Crazy with a Pair ).

Joaquin Phoenix continues to have an excellent performance in his second time playing the Joker. Not only shocking in appearance and impressive in voice, Joaquin Phoenix perfectly expresses the madness and inner conflict of the Joker. The role is predicted to continue to bring Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar nomination next year.

At the beginning of the film, Joaquin Phoenix shocked the audience with his skinny appearance. In part 1, he had to lose 22kg to play the role. This time, Joaquin Phoenix continued to maintain a strict weight loss and diet regimen to prepare for the role of Joker. In 2020, Joaquin Phoenix lost 22kg for Joker and this time the actor did not remember exactly and said he had to lose about 20kg.

At the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Joaquin Phoenix revealed that he almost went crazy because of his diet of only lettuce, asparagus and apples. He vowed not to do it again because he was 50 years old. Not only did he prepare physically, losing weight by abusing his body to make the Joker character look really miserable after a period of imprisonment and violence in prison, Joaquin Phoenix had difficulty in this part of the film when he had to practice dancing and singing.

Joaquin Phoenix during the process of playing Joker and at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024. Photo: Dailymail 

After half a decade, the audience will once again return to Gotham through the perspective of director Todd Phillips.  Joker: Mad Men is the sequel to the blockbuster Joker that took the global cinema by storm in 2019. The events in part 2 take place 2 years after Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) caused a series of shocking massacres in Gotham City and at this time, he is imprisoned in Arkham psychiatric hospital.

What’s special is that all the vocals in the film – including Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s – were recorded live, not lip-synced. The two actors will sing to a piano accompaniment while acting, and the background music will be added in post-production, completely immersing the audience in the musical world inside these two “crazy lovers” for an experience beyond expectations.

Joaquin Phoenix in character as Joker in part 2. Photo: WB

Joker 2 is rated 18+ when it hits Vietnamese theaters from October 4.