Lady Gaga for Joker 2 musical reports has fans and film buffs flummoxed

Watch: Will Lady Gaga play Harley Quinn in a musical Joker 2?

Lady Gaga is reportedly in talks to star as Harley Quinn in a musical Joker 2.

Director Todd Phillips recently confirmed he was making a sequel to his Oscar-winning comic book origins movie starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Now movie insiders have told The Hollywood Reporter pop singer and actor Gaga - real name Stefani Germanotta - is in talks to play love interest Harley Quinn and that the project, titled Joker: Folie a Deux, will be a musical.

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There has been mixed reaction to the news on social media with some film buffs speculating that while the first Joker was heavily influenced by Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, a musical follow-up would likely pay homage to Scorcese's New York, New York starring Liza Minnelli.

Eric Diaz tweeted: "All the toxic bros loved Joker, because it fetishized Scorsese’s 'Taxi Driver', a (great) film they worship for the wrong reasons. But clearly Joker 2 is gonna be Scorsese’s 'New York, New York', meaning it’s gonna be a musical with Gaga riffing on Liza. Their hate will be STRONG."

Reyes Flores said: "Todd Phillips Joker was Taxi Driver here’s another Martin Scorsese movie with Liza Minnelli who Lady Gaga loves. NEW YORK NEW YORK this is #Joker2."

While some are sceptical of the choice to cast Gaga - who was nominated for an Oscar for 2018 film A Star Is Born - others believe the unusual move makes the perfect follow-up to the first Joker film.

Noam Blum posted: "Joker 2 being a musical with Gaga as Harley Quinn sounds awesome. If you're going to make a sequel to that movie, lean into being weird and your own thing."

Cooper Hood tweeted: "Lady Gaga playing Harley Quinn has the chance to be awesome. And the musical aspect shows just how different Joker 2 is going to be. Should be interesting to see how the rest of this movie comes together."

Sheraz Farooqi said: "When speculating the title of JOKER: Folie à deux, many assumed Harley Quinn to co-star with Joaquin Phoenix. Lady Gaga is an interesting choice for Harley but the most experimental thing is the idea of a musical. It’s risky, but it just might work. Interested in hearing more."

Meanwhile, many Lady Gaga fans admitted they were not fans of the first movie, but would watch a sequel if she stars in it.

Margot Robbie currently plays Harley Quinn in the DC Comic Universe, starring as the villain in Suicide Squad and spin-off Birds Of Prey.

Phoenix, 47, won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2020 for his dark portrayal of the comic book villain in the origins movie about the party clown Arthur Fleck's descent from troubled loner and failing comedian to psychotic murderer.

Joker quickly became the most profitable comic movie ever made, earning over $1bn off a $60m budget.

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The movie received huge critical acclaim and multiple awards including the Best Actor Bafta, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild accolades for Phoenix. It also won him his first Academy Award, following three previous nominations.