‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ director defends controversial ending: “Nobody cares about Arthur”

The premiere of ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ has not left anyone indifferent, as expected, but also for different reasons than those foreseen when the film was announced since the sensation it has left among critics and the public has absolutely nothing to do with the one left by the original. Nothing more, in fact, and the fact is that this sequel aims to leave theaters with 75% less box office than the original, which would be a significant drop. One of the aspects that least convinced most viewers was the ending, of which its director, Todd Phillips, is a fervent defender.

Spoilers for the ending of ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ will be mentioned below.

Todd Phillips, convinced he got the ending of ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ (SPOILERS)

At the end of the first film, all signs point to Arthur Fleck becoming the crime king of Gotham, a rebellious figure with thousands of followers, especially after his shocking participation in Murray Franklin’s (Robert de Niro) show. However, throughout the footage of ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, Fleck makes it clear that he has no intention of being a symbol for anyone; he just wants to be treated and understood as a normal person with a mental health problem. That Arthur doesn’t end up being the psychopathic clown that the Joker is in the comics and David Ayer’s ‘Suicide Squad’ is a disappointment not only to those around him... but to many viewers as well.

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Finally, Arthur Fleck is murdered in the mental hospital by another patient who, after leaving him to bleed to death, opens the wounds in his mouth that will eventually turn him into the real Joker, making Fleck a mere inspiration.

“He realized that everything is so corrupt, it’s never going to change, and the only way to fix it is to burn it all down,” Phillips explains. “hen those guards kill that kid in the [hospital] he realizes that dressing up in makeup, putting on this thing, it’s not changing anything. In some ways, he’s accepted the fact that he’s always been Arthur Fleck; he’s never been this thing that’s been put upon him, this idea that Gotham people put on him, that he represents.”

“He’s an unwitting icon. This thing was placed on him, and he doesn’t want to live as a fake anymore — he wants to be who he is,” the director continues. “the sad thing is, he’s Arthur, and nobody cares about Arthur,” including Lee (Lady Gaga). “[She’s] realizing, I’m on a whole other trip, man, you can’t be what I wanted you to be.” Additionally, Phillips assures that the scene in which the two break up on the iconic staircase is “actually, really happening,” and it’s not Arthur’s hallucination.

‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ is currently in theaters.