Joker 2 Theory Links It to Ledger’s Version

By August Tales

The Final Act in Joker: Folie à Deux and the Dark Knight Connection

“Joker: Folie à Deux” recently dished out its final scene. Many film buffs believe this offers an intersecting point between Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and the renowned Dark Knight movie. Instantly, it stirred a flurry of interpretations. Some suggest it has ties with Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger’s Oscar-endorsed iteration of the Joker.

Evolving Theories Around Ledger’s Joker and Folie à Deux

As “Folie à Deux” unravelled towards the end, we observe a guard at Arkham informing Arthur of a visitor. Arthur, en route to the visitor, is ambushed by an inmate. This character, Young Inmate (played by Connor Storrie), remains nameless throughout. The scene culminates with the Young Inmate joking about a psychopath, a famed clown, and executing Arthur with humor. The ending views the inmate craft a Glasgow smile on his face, laughter ringing in the air.

Rumors have since swirled, suggesting this menacing character symbolizes a young Joker portrayed by Heath Ledger. In The Dark Knight, Ledger’s Joker sported identical facial scars and shared comparable origin stories involving his abusive father and gambling-shark wife. According to the speculative chatter, this theory asserts Ledger’s Joker inflicted that Glasgow smile upon himself post Arthur’s killing.

Who Was Arthur Fleck’s Killer in Joker 2?

Debate, however, surrounds this Joker theory – the sticking point being continuity. Let’s consider Harvey Dent’s transition into Two-Face: in the film, Dent is severely disfigured following a car bomb explosion. Todd Phillips’ grounded version of these iconic movies lends weight to the argument that Lawtey’s Dent could transition into Two-Face. If so, it contradicts this storyline serving as Ledger’s Joker origin story as Dent’s transformation is central to The Dark Knight plot.

Furthermore, The Dark Knight trilogy aligns with a more modern timeline, spanning 2005 to 2012. Ledger was in his mid-to-late 20s when filming scenes as the Joker. Even with a few years of generous ageing, Ledger’s Joker would be too young to have murdered Arthur in the reportedly 1983-set Joker: Folie à Deux.

Based on this, it seems doubtful that the Young Inmate resembles The Dark Knight’s Joker. However, within Phillips’ universe, the Clown Prince of Crime persona could certainly fit. In light of Phillips’ assertion that Arthur is not a “criminal mastermind”, the Young Inmate can indeed carve out the Joker identity for himself by slaughtering Arthur and self-mutilating his face. Consequently, Arthur’s demise births a horrifying, fully anarchic incarnation of the Joker persona. This suggests that while Phoenix’s Arthur may meet his end, the Joker’s terrifying legacy could continue unabated.