4 differences between the Harley Quinn of Joker 2: Folie à Deux and that of Birds of Prey

A Joker would be little without his faithful Harlequin. The character of Harley Quinn always proves it a little more, with each of her appearances in the comics and on the screen. Created especially for Batman, the animated seriesin 1992, this anti-heroine has only known two interpretations in the flesh, for more than thirty years.

In 2016, Margot Robbie (Barbie) thus became the first actress to have the honor of donning the colorful costume of this former psychiatrist, who became an agent of chaos alongside the Joker, in the terrible Suicide Squadthen in the excellent dedicated film Birds of Prey. From now on, a major opponent opposes her: Lady Gaga, who shines in Joker 2: Folie à Deuxreleased on October 2, 2024 in cinemas. Here are 4 differences between these two variations around Harley Quinn.

Warning, the rest of this article contains spoilers on Joker 2: Folie à Deux.

Bye bye baseball bat

In Suicide Squad et Birds of PreyHarley Quinn has a trusty baseball bat, which allows her to beat up every man in her path (and the patriarchy along the way). Far from this murderous paraphernalia, Lady Gaga’s version seems less hungry for blood, but more attracted to fire, not hesitating to set a piano on fire in Arkham, to be able to escape alongside the Joker.

Chewing-gum or not chewing-gum ?

In Joker 2: Folie à DeuxHarley Quinn has a cold, rather calm personality. His icy temperament is especially revealed at the end of the film, during an unexpected confrontation with the Joker. An interpretation a thousand miles from that of Suicide Squadmuch more energetic and colorful, endowed with the high voice of Margot Robbie, and preferring the nonchalance of chewing gum to the depressive covers of Frank Sinatra.

Last August, the director of Joker 2Todd Phillips, confirmed this change of direction to Variety: “The high-pitched voice, the accent, the chewing gum and all those eccentric elements from the original comic, we took them out. We wanted Harley Quinn to be able to fit into the Gotham we created for the first Joker movie. »

Say my Name

Beyond their physical appearance or their personality traits, these two versions of Harley Quinn also have a slightly different original name. In Suicide Squad, her real surname is thus Harleen Quinzel, while in Folie à Deuxthe Joker’s sidekick rather responds to the sweet nickname of Lee.

Little other information will be given throughout the film on her true identity, masked by numerous lies, until her name is finally revealed, becoming Harleen Quinzel. Note that in Folie à Deuxno one, not even the Joker, nicknames her Harley Quinn, the story thus banking on our collective imagination to deduce her future.

Who manipulates who?

In the comics, as well as in Suicide SquadHarley Quinn is above all a renowned psychiatrist, whose mind faltered during her electric encounter with the Joker, then locked up in Arkham. Folie à Deux takes a very different path, since this time, Harley Quinn is a patient in this traumatic psychiatric hospital. Worse: she was even locked up voluntarily, at her request, in order to be able to meet Arthur Fleck, and, above all, his alter ego in the form of the Joker. If the film reveals that she still studied psychology, the plot completely reverses the roles: this time, it is Harley Quinn who manipulates the Joker’s mind, and not the other way around.

Bonus point in common: a taste for staging

In a completely unexpected way, Joker 2: Folie à Deux takes us into a musical comedy universe, where the notion of stage takes a prominent place in the plot. A bias which obviously allows Lady Gaga to once again demonstrate all her talents, singing along to Joaquin Phoenix.

With its musical numbers by the dozen, Folie à Deux reveals a crucial aspect of Harley Quinn, clearly visible in Suicide Squad and especially in Birds of Preywith an improbable cover of Marilyn Monroe: the character’s taste for theatrical productions and extravagance, with a more pronounced tendency for fighting. On that score, at least, Lady Gaga and Margot Robbie might just be the silver screen’s most chaotic sisters.