Nina Henderson
Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Phillips recently shed light on Arthur Fleck’s confession and the real identity of the Joker. In a revealing interview, Phillips delved into the movie’s climax and Arthur’s final moments, asserting that Arthur was never the actual Joker, but rather a catalyst for the character’s birth. He affirmed that Arthur’s journey culminated in this eye-opening revelation.
Todd Phillips Unravels Arthur’s Final Words and the Climax of Joker: Folie à Deux
In Joker: Folie à Deux, Arthur Fleck makes a startling confession to the jury – he was never the real Joker.
Phillips, in a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, revealed that Arthur confesses because he comes to terms with the fact that the system is rotten and beyond repair. Phillips quoted, “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.”
After witnessing more violence in Arkham, Arthur realizes that his Joker persona has failed to bring about any significant change. This epiphany leads him to admit that he has always been Arthur Fleck, not the symbol people perceived him to be.
Phillips further clarified that Arthur never aspired to become the Joker, stating, “He’s an unwitting icon. This thing was thrust upon him, and he doesn’t want to live a lie anymore — he wants to be true to himself.”
The final interaction between Arthur and Harleen Quinzel, portrayed by Lady Gaga, emphasizes his realization. Phillips remarked, “The sad thing is, he’s Arthur, and nobody cares about Arthur.” He highlighted that Harleen never refers to him as Arthur until she abandons him at the end of the film. Moreover, Phillips confirmed that this exchange is genuine, stating, “The final conversation between Lee and Arthur is actually real,” unlike Arthur’s earlier fantasized romance with Sophie.
Arthur meets his end at the hands of another inmate, who unveils the true Joker by etching a grin into his cheeks. This scene suggests that Arthur was the muse for the emergence of another character who likely assumes the Joker identity post his demise.
Joker: Folie à Deux is currently screening in theaters.
