Irish actor Brendan Gleeson gets considerably more screen time in the official trailer for "Joker: Folie À Deux," released on July 23, than the previously released teaser trailer.
Gleeson, the Oscar nominee from Dublin, stars as what appears to be a prison guard in the new film that's a follow-up to 2019’s Academy Award-winning “Joker,” which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office and remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
"How 'bout you, Arthur, do you still think you're a star?" Gleeson's character asks Arthur Fleck / Joker, reprised by Joaquin Phoenix from his 2019 role in "Joker," in the new trailer.
Phoenix and Lady Gaga take top billing in the highly anticipated new film, while Gleeson joins Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz in the supporting cast.
The new trailer was released the same day it was confirmed that "Joker: Folie À Deux" will have its world premiere, and also be in competition, at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
"Joker: Folie À Deux," Deadline says, is “arguably the highest-profile movie of the competition bunch.”
The follow-up film has some big shoes to fill after "Joker" won the prestigious Golden Lion at the festival five years ago.
Announcing that "Joker: Folie À Deux" is in competition at Venice this year, Director Alberto Barbera said: "Nobody can imagine what Todd [Phillips] and his screenwriters have imagined to tell the story of Joaquin Phoenix in the criminal asylum where he's locked up with Lady Gaga awaiting trial.
"Everything is unexpected, including the interpretation of Joaquin Phoenix who is really incredible in his performance.
"And Todd Phillips is one of the most original authors in contemporary American cinema."
Gleeson hasn't spoken much about his role in "Joker: Folie à Deux," but he did tell Collider after signing on in 2022 that he "didn't have to be asked twice" to join the film.
When asked what it was about the material that persuaded him to sign on, Gleeson coyly replied: "It wasn't the material which is a great way of getting me out of having to answer any questions about the material, which I can't.
"It was the achievement of the first film.
"I worked with Joaquin before on 'The Village,' so I knew him from then."
Gleeson said that he was "still in awe" of Phoenix's performance in the first "Joker" movie.
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