Photo: BACKGRID

No joke —Joaquin Phoenixis back as the Joker!
The 48-year-old actor was spotted Saturday in downtown Los Angeles on the set of his upcoming musical sequel to 2019’sJoker, titledJoker: Folie à Deux.
Phoenix reprised his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker in the character’s signature curly hairdo and smudged clown makeup, wearing a dusty gray suit over a similarly dirty-looking tan shirt and brown shoes.
In one set of photos, theOscarwinner was captured running down the street — as was another man, looking the full Joker part in a red-and-yellow suit, full face of clown makeup and green hair.
Aside from his dirty suit and sprint down the street, a bloody ear on Phoenix also seemed to suggest he was filming a scene involving a bit of trouble for his sinister character.
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To celebrateValentine’s Daylast month Warner Brothers released the official First Look image of Phoenix and costarLady Gaga, who plays Harley Quinn in the film.
Gaga, 36, first shared the photo on social media. The snapshot captured the musician-turned-actress and Phoenix in the moments after a passionate kiss, her red lipstick smudged all over his face.
In the film, Phoenix reprises his role as the legendaryBatmanvillain whileGaga plays Harley Quinn (a.k.a. Dr. Harleen Quinzel), Joker’s longtime henchwoman and love interest whom the sinister prankster first met when she served as his psychiatrist at Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum.
PEOPLEconfirmed Gaga’s involvementin the film — specifically, that she was in talks to play Harley — back in June 2022.The Hollywood Reporterwas the first to share the news.
Back in December 2022, Phillips, 52,shared a first-look photoat Phoenix —who won an Academy Award forhis role in the first film — in the new movie.
The picture showed Phoenix’sshirtless Fleck getting a shave, with his head tilted back over a sink at Arkham Asylum.
“Day 1. Our boy.#joker,” Phillips captioned the image.
Joker: Folie à Deuxis in theaters Oct. 4, 2024.
source: people.com