JOKER Sequel Almost Cast Justin Theroux To Play Arthur Fleck in a TV Movie Within The Movie
There was a recurring joke in Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux about whether or not a TV movie that was made based on Arthur Fleck’s life and killing spree is actually good or not.
Lady Gaga’s Harleen “Lee” Quinzel is a big fan of the TV movie and is basically obsessed with it. It played a big part in her idolization of the real Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix). Every time Arthur asks her about the movie Harley gives it a rave review.
It turns out that a trailer for the TV movie was almost shot for the Joker sequel, and Justin Theroux was going to play Arthur in that trailer.
In an interview with IGN, director and co-writer Todd Phillips revealed this bit of info and says he even talked to Theroux about playing Arthur the TV movie.
Theroux did briefly appear in the original Joker film as the actor Ethan Chase as he was a guest on Murray Franklin’s talk show.
Phillips said: “Well, Justin Theroux of course. In fact, I talked to Justin about it. We were going to shoot a trailer at one point. We just ran out of time. Yes, ‘Ethan Chase,’ the actor from the first movie.”
While it would’ve been interesting to see a trailer for the Joker TV movie in Joker: Folie à Deux, it doesn’t seem like it would’ve made the movie any better.
When previously asked about his possible involvement in the Joker sequel, Theroux said: “All I can say is I haven’t spoken to Todd in forever, and I have not approached him about doing anything for Joker.
“I won’t say any more than that. Unless he has some brilliant way to weave in that small character, that would really be shoehorning a character into the movie that probably doesn’t need to be there.”
Would you have liked to see this Joker TV Movie trailer with Justin Theroux as Arthur?