Warning: This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux.
Behind the scenes details fromJoker: Folie à Deuxmight have provided an answer to a long-running Joker mystery from 2008’sThe Dark Knight. Joaquin Phoenix reprised his role of Arthur Fleck, in 2024’sJoker: Folie à Deux, with the sequel controversially seeing Fleck renounce his identity as Joker, instead confessing to his heinous crimes. WhilePhoenix’s Fleck didn’t want to be Joker, however, Heath Ledger’s interpretation of the DC Comics supervillain in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightfully embraced this dark persona, perhaps spurred on by his recognizable scars.
Most interpretations of theJoker, in DC Comics and in live-actionalike, have noticeable scarring on their face in the shape of a Glasgow smile.The true origins of the Joker’s scars have never been revealed in DC Comics, with the Batman villain preferring to keep his backstory"multiple choice",and the same has gone for his recent live-action adaptations. Most notably,Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker inThe Dark Knightdidn’t reveal the cause of his facial scars, but this mystery may now have been answered thanks to one detail fromJoker: Folie à Deux’sproduction.
Joker’s Original Ending Was Supposed To Feature Arthur Carving His Own Face
2019’s Joker Ended With Arthur Fleck Being Arrested
Todd Phillips' Academy Award-winningJokermarked a fantastic debut for Joaquin Phoenix’s gritty, dark and realistic version of the iconic character. Towards the end of the movie,Arthur Fleck appears as Jokeron a late-night show hosted by Murray Franklin, which ends with his shooting the host dead on live TV. He is arrested, but is able to briefly escape as a monumental riot breaks out in Gotham, with Joker as the instigator.Fleck stands atop the police car and smears blood on his face in the shape of a smile, but this wasn’t the original plan.
Joker Ending Explained: What REALLY Happened To Arthur
Joker’s ending takes Arthur Fleck to the promised dark place in an unexpected way. We explain what was really happening and what it means.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter,Jokeroriginally ended with Arthur Fleck carving a Glasgow smile into his face before the crowd of his followers. This would have brought Phoenix’s depiction of the character much more in-line with his DC Comics counterpart, but this didn’t come to fruition, and the reason why has now been revealed.Joker: Folie à Deuxends with Arthur Fleck being killed by ayoung inmate at Arkham Asylum, played by Connor Storrie, who then proceeds to carve a Glasgow smile into his own face, bringing the moment planned forJokerinto live-action once-and-for-all.
Christopher Nolan Reportedly Nixed Joker’s Scars Reveal
Joker’s Original Ending Was Apparently Changed By Christopher Nolan
The Hollywood Reporterrevealed thatThe Dark Knightdirector Christopher Nolanapparently asked for the scene of Arthur Fleck carving his face inJokerto be changed. Reportedly, this was because Nolan, who was previously a Warner Bros. mainstay, believed only his Joker, portrayed by the late Heath Ledger, should carve his face.Christopher Nolan had nothing to do with the development of 2019’sJoker, and has no claim to the DC Comics villain, so this was a ridiculous request by the filmmaker, but Warner Bros. changed this scene nonetheless.
2005
$373.7 million
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Christopher Nolan no longer has a regular partnership with Warner Bros., so the scene of Connor Storrie’s Arkham inmate carving his own Glasgow smile inJoker: Folie à Deuxwas perhaps a pointed jab at the acclaimed director. Of course,it likely would have been far more impactful had it been Arthur Fleck submitting himself to this scarring, especially since this may have made for a more pleasing sequelfor many disgruntled viewers. However, Nolan’s request forJokercomes with another stinger that also changes how you’ll watchThe Dark Knight.
Nolan Report Accidentally Answers One Of DC’s Longest Running Mysteries
Joker Detail Suggests Heath Ledger’s Joker Carved His Own Glasgow Smile
While it’s unclear exactly what Christopher Nolan said to get thisJokerscene changed,The Hollywood Reporter’ssuggestion that he noted only his Joker"should carve his face"implies thatHeath Ledger’s Jokerinflicted the scarring on himself. The Joker provided two origin stories for his Glasgow smile inThe Dark Knight, one involving an abusive father, and one in which he scarred himself to comfort his scarred, gambling-addicted wife. While it’s possible neither of these stories are true,THR’sJoker: Folie à Deuxexposé suggestsLedger’s Joker scarred himself, answering a 16-year-old mystery that perhaps should have remained secret.
One new theory suggests Heath Ledger’s Joker and the Arkham Asylum inmate portrayed by Connor Storrie inJoker: Folie à Deuxare one and the same, with the 2024 movie acting as an origin story forThe Dark Knight’svillain.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Cast
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
