If Joaquin Phoenix’s comedic killer Arthur Fleck returns to screens after “Joker: Folie à Deux,” he’ll virtually actually must placed on a couple of kilos. The brand new movie from Todd Phillips solely simply premiered on the Venice Worldwide Movie Pageant, and in a press convention (by way of Selection), Phoenix defined that the physique transformation required to play The Joker was “troublesome” however “protected.” 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 most likely should not do that once more. That is most likely 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 an alternative, it could possibly 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,” an announcement that suggests that the complete extent of the actor’s bodily transformation might 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 most likely will not put his physique by the Joker weight loss program 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 immediately’s press occasion — a wise alternative provided that mentioning numbers and strategies concerned in excessive weight-reduction plan can influence others recovering from consuming issues. “I am not going to speak by specifics of the weight loss program, as a result of I simply assume no one needs to listen to that,” Phoenix stated, giving a fairly self-deprecating purpose for staying mum about particulars just like the variety of kilos he misplaced. “It simply seems like an actor occurring 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 a giant deal about that half.”
Nonetheless, Phoenix conceded that an added stage of physicality required for “Joker: Folie à Deux” made the transformation trickier. “However this time, it felt a bit extra difficult 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 protected.” That is when Phoenix stated he most likely would not put his physique by the rigamarole once more — an comprehensible sentiment that is been shared by different actors prior to now. In 2017, Tom Hardy spoke to The Every day Beast about his lengthy historical past of grueling bodily transformations for the sake of a job, saying, “I believe you pay the worth with any drastic bodily adjustments.”
Different main stars have additionally sworn off physique transformations
“It was alright once I was youthful, to place myself underneath that form of duress,” Hardy theorized, “however I believe as you get into your 40s it’s important to be extra conscious of the speedy coaching, packing on numerous 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 similar 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 unhealthy habits, Tom Holland has vowed to avoid 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 at present would 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 are not feeling effectively, nor does the franchise must equate its fairly romantic imaginative and prescient of psychological sickness with skinniness. At immediately’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 comprehend it should not ask him –- or anybody –- to.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” hits theaters on October 4, 2024.
