Entertainment
‘Arthur’s Not A Criminal Mastermind’
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There have been all kinds of iterations of the Joker over the years. Some veered more towards the exaggerated mobster route, like Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton’s Batman; there was Heath Ledger’s nihilistic terrorist in The Dark Knight; Jared Leto’s eccentric tattooed gang leader in Suicide Squad. But in Joker, Joaquin Phoenix gave us a totally different conception of who Batman’s arch-nemesis might be – a lonely, disenfranchised failed comedian whose inner turmoil spills over into violent acts that bring out the darkness festering in Gotham City. In Todd Phillips’ film, Arthur Fleck wasn’t a villain, let alone a maniacal schemer – more a mercurial, unpredictable force moving through the world in his own unique way.
And so, in Joker: Folie À Deux – the much-anticipated sort-of-sequel that sends Fleck to Arkham, where he’ll strike up a music-fuelled relationship with Lady Gaga’s Harley ‘Lee’ Quinzel – we’ll be venturing further into Arthur Fleck’s psyche. But, in keeping with the previous film, it won’t see the Joker become Gotham’s Clown Prince Of Crime. “We would never do that,” Phillips explains to Empire in the world-exclusive Joker: Folie À Deux cover feature. “Because Arthur clearly is not a criminal mastermind. He was never that.” While Fleck isn’t angling to become a criminal figurehead in Arkham, the world is watching him. “Arthur has become this symbol to people,” Phillips says. “This unwilling, unwitting symbol now paying for the crimes of the first film, but at the same time finding the only thing he ever wanted, which was love. That’s always what he’s been about, even though he’s been pushed and pulled in all these directions. So we tried to just make the most pure version of that.”
That purity of character exploration dovetails with Folie À Deux’s most unexpected stylistic swing – that Fleck (and Gaga’s Lee) will break into song. It comes from the notion in the first film that, in Phillips’ words, Fleck “has music in him”. Cue Phoenix singing showtunes, as channelled through Arthur. “It was important to protect that with poor phrasing and occasional bum notes,” the actor tells Empire. “Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio. He’s not a singer, and he shouldn’t sound like a professional singer. He should sound like somebody that’s taking a shower and just bursts out into song.”
He was, however, performing opposite the professional singer, Lady Gaga. “I do seem to remember her spitting up coffee the first time I sang, so that felt good, that was exciting, and made me feel confident,” he jokes. Together, they found a creative harmony. “Gaga was always very encouraging of just, ‘Go with what you feel, it’s fine’,” says Phoenix. “For somebody who’s not a performer in that way, it can be… uncomfortable to do that, but also very exciting.” Prepare for one hell of a cinematic duet.
Read Empire’s world-exclusive cover feature on Joker: Folie À Deux – speaking to Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Todd Phillips and more about the making of their rule-breaking sequel – in the September 2024 issue, on sale Thursday 1 August. Pre-order a copy online here. Joker: Folie À Deux comes to UK cinemas on 4 October.
Entertainment
Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard Have Empire Reunion With Fight Night
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Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard Have Empire Reunion With Fight Night
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Entertainment
Under $50 Hoop Earrings We’re Loving Now
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The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases.
Hoop earrings are not just a trend; they’re a lifestyle.
Whether you’ve been wearing hoop earrings since you were a little girl (or boy!) or have just started rocking the iconic accessory in sterling silver or gold, it’s time to build out your hoop earrings wardrobe.
Hoop earrings can be as versatile as studs. This jewelry must-have comes in so many shapes, sizes, and widths that it can enhance any number of styles.
Our shopping editors love hoops so much that we’ve found the perfect pair for every occasion below, and they’re all under $50.
Shop thin, delicate hoops below. This accessory option adds a dainty touch to a daytime look, making it a great choice for the office or everyday wear.
You can always add some drama to your ensemble with a chunky hoop earring in a fun shape for an event or date night. We’ve found a ton of options below in a variety of your favorite metals.
Add texture to your look with a set of hoops beaded with pearls, studded with diamonds, or featuring other stone options. And you don’t even have to go big! There are plenty of huggie hoop options below that would look great alone or in an earring stack.
We’ve picked out hoops that fit every style and budget. Whether you’re into silver or gold, we’ve found the perfect pair just for you.
Plus, a lot of these options are hypoallergenic and made by brands that create rust and tarnish-resistant jewelry, so they’ll stay in your collection for the long haul.
Entertainment
Michael Keaton Totally Forgot He Was in a Marvel Movie
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Michael Keaton has portrayed some of cinema’s most iconic characters, including Beetlejuice and Batman, so the actor should be forgiven for forgetting he played one of the best villains in a Marvel movie. Keaton made his MCU debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming as an updated version of the popular comic-book villain, the Vulture. The MCU’s Vulture harnessed alien technology from the Battle of New York (shown in The Avengers) to develop dangerous technology, as opposed to wearing a skin-tight bird suit.
While participating in the WIRED Autocomplete Interview, Michael Keaton reflected on his time in the MCU. At least, he tried to. The actor completely forgot he appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Keaton said he was asked about the movie a few days prior, and had to look it up on Google to remember who he actually played. Keaton said:
“I just saw this shot the other day. That great shot in the car, where I’m looking in the mirror. Somebody was asking me a question about this and I actually couldn’t remember. I had to Google myself to figure out what the hell, what I was doing in that shot. And I’m Vulture, of course.”
Michael Keaton reprised the role during a brief cameo in the internet’s favorite movie, Morbius (sadly, he didn’t utter the iconic line “it’s Morbin’ time”). Keaton never showed his face in the scene, as Vulture wore his militaristic helmet when meeting Jared Leto’s vampiric character. The scene was intended to set up the Sinister Six in a future Sony/Marvel movie. However, this cameo has yet to be paid off as the Sony Spider-Verse is still in shambles following the release of Madame Web.
Michael Keaton Coolly Explains Why He’s the Best Batman
While Michael Keaton had a hard time remembering his villainous character from Spider-Man: Homecoming, there’s one superhero he’ll never forget playing. Keaton played Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s Batman, the movie that re-defined the character on the big screen, following Adam West’s lighthearted tenure. Keaton loves looking back on his time as The Dark Knight. He even quoted the famous line, “I’m Batman,” during a commencement speech at Kent State University in 2018. During the interview, Keaton was asked why his version of Batman is the best. Not mincing words, Keaton simply said:
During his time as Batman, Michael Keaton said he learned a valuable career lesson from his co-star, Michael Gough, who played Alfred. During production, Keaton was still in the early days of his career. He remembered asking Gough “Do you think actors get better as they get older?” Keaton never forgot his response:
“I’ll never forget, he said, ‘I think they just get more.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘You just get more of what you are, you know?’ Always stuck with me.”
Let’s see if Michael Gough’s theory is true as Michael Keaton returns to the screen this spooky season as Beetlejuice in Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sees Keaton return as, once again, the juice gets loose. The movie also stars Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, both reprising their roles from the original film, alongside newcomer Jenna Ortega.
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