"Should've named the movie 'Arthur Fleck' then" — Netizens fume at director Todd Phillips saying Joaquin Phoenix was never actually The Joker

Director Todd Phillips recently sparked outrage among fans of the acclaimed film Joker after he said that Joaquin Phoenix was never indeed "The Joker." In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on October 4, 2024, Todd Phillips shed light on the character of Arthur Fleck and explained how Arthur was never intended to be The Joker.

"He’s always been Arthur Fleck; he’s never been this thing that’s been put upon him, this idea that Gotham people put on him, that he represents. He’s an unwitting icon. This thing was placed on him, and he doesn’t want to live as a fake anymore — he wants to be who he is," Phillips said.

This comment has ignited a firestorm of debate on social media, with many netizens expressing their dissatisfaction and disbelief on X.

"Should've named the movie "Arthur Fleck" then," one person suggested.

"So the name of the movie is just a way to money grab and capitalize on a popular DC villain? Could've called this a thousand other names then," another on X.

Many X users pointed out that since the film is titled Joker, it is reasonable for the audience to interpret Arthur Fleck as the sole embodiment of the character. They questioned how director Todd Phillips could expect viewers to separate the name from the character.

"so if he’s never been the joker…why was the movie called joker?," another wrote on X.

"He literally tells Murray to call him “joker," a netizen commented.

"there will only ever be 1 Joker don’t get it twisted 😭," another commented.

Some users on X said they are encountering information about the film that they did not seek out or want to know. Others humorously suggested that the people who went to watch the movie in cinemas were the real jokers.

"everything i’m learning about this film is against my will," one on X.

"everything he says about the joker films makes me hate them even more," a netizen commented.

"Those who are watched the joker 2 in theatre are the real Jokers," one more commented.

Disclaimer: The rest of the article may contain Joker: Folie à Deux spoilers.

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Insights by Todd Phillips on Arthur Fleck amid Joker: Folie à Deux release

On October 4, 2024, Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Joker, was released worldwide amidst considerable excitement following the original film's success and numerous awards. In this sequel, director Todd Phillips addresses the assertion that Joaquin Phoenix's character, Arthur Fleck, was never truly a joker.

In the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Todd Phillips reflected on his recent comments regarding a pivotal moment in Joker (2019). He suggested that the scene in which a guard kills a child in the hospital serves as a critical turning point for Arthur Fleck.

According to Phillips, this moment leads Arthur to realize that adopting the persona of the Joker, complete with makeup and attire, is not helping him. Instead, he accepts his identity as Arthur Fleck, which Phillips cites as part of his explanation for the assertion that Arthur was never truly one.

"When those guards kill that kid in the [hospital] he realizes that dressing up in makeup, putting on this thing, it's not changing anything. In some ways, he's accepted the fact that he's always been Arthur Fleck," Todd Phillips said, adding, "the sad thing is, he's Arthur, and nobody cares about Arthur."

This clarification is expected to unfold throughout the narrative of Joker: Folie à Deux, providing deeper insights into the character’s identity.

According to The Independent, Arthur Fleck sets aside his Joker identity after the newly released film and returns to prison. Upon his return, he is informed that he has a visitor. As he follows the guard, another inmate, portrayed by Connor Storrie, approaches him and requests that he tell a joke.

Joaquin Phoenix (Photo by Stefania D'Alessandro/WireImage/Getty)

This interaction takes a dark turn when the inmate stabs Fleck in the stomach multiple times. The scene then cuts to the inmate, who is seen smiling, evoking the iconic imagery associated with the Joker character, known for his grotesque smile and violent tendencies. Meanwhile, Fleck is left bleeding on the floor, underscoring the film’s exploration of identity and madness.

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With the movie now available in theatres, observing how audiences respond to Todd Phillips's revelation regarding the character will be intriguing.