If Joaquin Phoenix’s comedic killer Arthur Fleck returns to screens after “Joker: Folie à Deux,” he’ll nearly definitely have to placed on just a few kilos. The brand new movie from Todd Phillips solely simply premiered on the Venice Worldwide Movie Competition, and in a press convention (by way of Selection), Phoenix defined that the physique transformation required to play The Joker was “troublesome” however “secure.” Presumably answering a query from a member of the press who was involved about his emaciated on-screen look, Phoenix replied: “You are proper. I am now 49, I in all probability should not do that once more. That is in all probability it for me.”
In fact, this off-the-cuff comment should not be taken as Phoenix closing the door on the Arthur Fleck character altogether. As a substitute, it may very well be the road within the sand Hollywood must lastly reel in its obsession with unhealthy transformation for the sake of efficiency. Again in 2019, “Joker” costar Zazie Beetz informed Collider that the primary movie wasn’t in a position to do reshoots “as a result of Joaquin had misplaced a lot weight,” a press release that suggests that the complete extent of the actor’s bodily transformation could not have been deliberate. Phoenix informed the Related Press that he had obsessed over shedding the final little bit of weight for the position, admitting that “you actually develop like a dysfunction” when targeted on excessive weight change for the sake of a job.
Phoenix says he in all probability will not put his physique by the Joker weight-reduction plan once more
Whereas the actor shared the main points of his transformation course of after the primary movie wrapped, he was cautious to not go too in-depth at right now’s press occasion — a wise alternative provided that mentioning numbers and strategies concerned in excessive weight-reduction plan can influence others recovering from consuming problems. “I am not going to speak by specifics of the weight-reduction plan, as a result of I simply assume no one needs to listen to that,” Phoenix stated, giving a moderately self-deprecating purpose for staying mum about particulars just like the variety of kilos he misplaced. “It simply feels like an actor happening and on about how a lot weight they misplaced,” he defined. “By the tip of that run I used to be so sick of myself and offended at myself for making such an enormous deal about that half.”
Nonetheless, Phoenix conceded that an added degree of physicality required for “Joker: Folie à Deux” made the transformation trickier. “However this time, it felt a bit extra sophisticated simply because there was a lot dance rehearsal that we had been doing, which I did not have final time, so it felt a bit harder, however it’s secure.” That is when Phoenix stated he in all probability would not put his physique by the rigamarole once more — an comprehensible sentiment that is been shared by different actors previously. In 2017, Tom Hardy spoke to The Each day Beast about his lengthy historical past of grueling bodily transformations for the sake of a job, saying, “I feel you pay the value with any drastic bodily adjustments.”
Different main stars have additionally sworn off physique transformations
“It was alright once I was youthful, to place myself below that form of duress,” Hardy theorized, “however I feel as you get into your 40s you must be extra conscious of the fast coaching, packing on a variety of weight and getting bodily, after which not having sufficient time to maintain coaching since you’re busy filming, so your physique is swimming in two completely different instructions on the identical time.” He famous that losing a few pounds is equally impactful, saying, “To go from one excessive to a different has a value.” In the meantime, as a youthful star with a unique perspective on Hollywood’s dangerous habits, Tom Holland has vowed to keep away from roles requiring excessive weight reduction after making an attempt it simply as soon as.
The answer right here appears easy: If Arthur Fleck goes to return for a 3rd “Joker” film (one thing Phillips presently does not appear open to), Phillips and Phoenix can merely cease focusing a lot on his bodily physique as a illustration of the character’s twisted thoughts. We do not have to see somebody’s rib cage to know that they don’t seem to be feeling nicely, nor does the franchise have to equate its moderately romantic imaginative and prescient of psychological sickness with skinniness. At right now’s press convention, Phoenix stated that his costar Stefani Germanotta –- higher referred to as Woman Gaga –- additionally misplaced weight to play the position of Harley Quinn. Except there is a subplot about Arkham Asylum refusing to serve the inmates meals, the punishing body-changing routine feels fairly pointless. I hope Phoenix is correct, and that he will not find yourself pushing his physique to extremes once more for a job. However I additionally hope that Hollywood will get its act collectively sufficient to understand it should not ask him –- or anybody –- to.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” hits theaters on October 4, 2024.
