Joaquin Phoenix Gives Harvey Dent Actor’s Parents a Scare on the Set of Joker: Folie à Deux

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Gotham may be a dark place, but that didn’t stop Joaquin Phoenix from delivering a fun (and spooky) moment on the set of Joker: Folie à Deux. The Oscar-winning actor, famous for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck in the 2019 hit Joker, gave actor Harry Lawtey’s parents the fright of their lives—without even trying!

Lawtey, who plays Gotham’s fearless District Attorney Harvey Dent in the highly anticipated sequel, recently told Entertainment Weekly about a hilarious and unforgettable behind-the-scenes moment that left his family jumping out of their seats.

“My favorite on-set memory would have to be when Joaquin FaceTimed my mom and dad,” Lawtey shared with a laugh. “He still had all the Joker makeup on, and he made my mom jump! They didn’t see it coming, but it was so fun to share that moment with them.”

Lawtey, who is a notable new addition to the Joker franchise, couldn’t contain his excitement about working with Phoenix and the film’s other superstar, Lady Gaga, who takes on the role of Harley Quinn. The Industry actor described his time on set as surreal, particularly when he got a “front-row seat” to one of Gaga’s performances.

“The first time I saw Lady Gaga sing was incredible,” Lawtey said. “That’s an experience people pay a lot of money for, and here I was, just watching her in action. It was a real ‘pinch yourself’ moment.”

Set to be a wild and twisted musical journey, Joker: Folie à Deux follows Arthur Fleck’s descent further into madness as he meets and falls for Harley Quinn, a fellow patient at Arkham State Hospital. With Lawtey stepping into the role of Harvey Dent, fans are eager to see how this beloved character fits into the film’s dark world.

Though Dent is known in the Batman universe for eventually transforming into the villainous Two-Face, Lawtey remains tight-lipped about whether his character’s fate will follow the same trajectory in Folie à Deux. However, he did share his love for Gotham’s iconic rogues, saying that, in addition to Joker, he has a soft spot for the Penguin.

“I remember being terrified of the Penguin when I was a kid,” Lawtey said. “And with Colin Farrell’s recent take on the character, it’s cool to see him back in the spotlight.”

As for the sequel’s surprising musical direction, director Todd Phillips explained the artistic choice, emphasizing the “beauty and romance” inside Arthur Fleck despite his struggles.

“He’s clearly got issues, but there’s this light inside him,” Phillips said. “There’s a romance, and there’s music inside of him. That’s what made us feel like this story had to be told through a musical lens.”

Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see how it all unfolds. Joker: Folie à Deux hits theaters this Friday, promising a bold, eerie, and entertaining continuation of Arthur Fleck’s dark descent.