Washington [US], July 31 (ANI): Actor <keyword id="20127844" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Joaquin-Phoenix" source="keywords">Joaquin Phoenix</keyword>, who is known for playing the titular character in the 2019 American psychological thriller film '<keyword id="33109" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Joker" source="Orion">Joker</keyword>', directed and co-produced by Todd Phillips, has returned as Arthur Fleck or Joker in '<keyword id="20597465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Joker-Folie-a-Deux" source="keywords">Joker: Folie a Deux</keyword>'. It is a sequel to 2019's 'Joker''. Phoenix recently recalled what it ws like to sing in front of <keyword id="20014667" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lady-Gaga" source="keywords">Lady Gaga</keyword>, who plays <keyword id="20589756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harley-Quinn" source="keywords">Harley Quinn</keyword> in the movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.<br /><br />"I do seem to remember her spitting up coffee the first time I sang, so that felt good, that was exciting, and made me feel confident," he recalled. <br /><br />He collaborated with the renowned 'Shallow' singer to establish a musical rhythm that would underscore the development of their characters in the eagerly awaited film.<br /><br />"Gaga was always very encouraging of just, 'Go with what you feel, it's fine'," Phoenix said. "For somebody who's not a performer in that way, it can be... uncomfortable to do that, but also very exciting."<br /><br />He also shared the importance of music for his character.<br /><br />"It was important to protect that with poor phrasing and occasional bum notes," Phoenix added. "Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio. He's not a singer, and he shouldn't sound like a professional singer. He should sound like somebody that's taking a shower and just bursts out into song."<br /><br />The first 'Joker' was a huge success, both critically and commercially. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, with Joaquin Phoenix winning Best Actor and Hildur Gudnadottir winning for Original Score. It became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. Phoenix reprises his role as Joker in the sequel, and Lady Gaga joins as Harley Quinn. The movie will mostly take place in Arkham Asylum. <br /><br />The supporting cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey. Zazie Beetz returns as Sophie from the first film. The sequel is said to be a musical, building on Phoenix's dancing scenes from the original. Todd Phillips returns as the director of 'Joker: Folie a Deux.'<br /><br />The sequel to the 2019 film 'Joker' will be released in theatres on October 4, 2024, after premiering at the Venice Film Festival. The first 'Joker' movie won the Golden Lion at Venice in 2019, according to The Hollywood Reporter.<br />

Joaquin Phoenix recalls Lady Gaga's reaction when she heard him sing in 'Joker: Folie a Deux'

​<strong>Stree 2, Venom and more: Upcoming movie releases of 2024</strong>​

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Imax CEO Richard Gelfond told BI "Joker: Folie à Deux" will be shown in Imax 70mm.</li><li>The "Joker" sequel joins recent hits like "Oppenheimer" and "Dune: Part Two" as titles receiving this unique release.</li></ul><p>Director Todd Phillips' anticipated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-2-trailer-joaquin-phoenix-and-lady-gaga-shine-2024-4">"Joker: Folie à Deux,"</a> the sequel to his hit 2019 movie "Joker," will get the theatrical release treatment previously given to the likes of Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve.</p><p>"Joker: Folie à Deux" will be shown in Imax 70mm, the company's CEO Richard Gelfond told Business Insider on Tuesday at CinemaCon hours before Warner Bros. world premiered the movie's trailer at the annual movie-theater convention in Las Vegas.</p><p>"Yes, we are going to present it in Imax 70mm," Gelfond told BI.</p><p>Showing a movie in this pristine large format has become a confirmation of sorts that a director has achieved auteur status.</p><p>For the release of "Oppenheimer" last summer, Nolan made it clear while promoting it that seeing the movie in Imax 70mm was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theaters-where-you-can-see-oppenheimer-in-imax-70mm-2023-7">the way he intended people to experience</a> his Oscar-winning epic.</p><div type="image" title="Lady Gaga holding Joaquin Phoenix face" height="1054" width="1875" msid="109201120" hostid="261" sizebytes="123280"></div><p>Villeneuve continued the trend last month with the release of "Dune: Part 2."</p><p>Both titles became not just critical darlings due to filmmakers' visions but huge moneymakers, with "Oppenheimer" taking in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt15398776/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">close to $1 billion at the worldwide box office</a> and "Dune: Part 2" nearing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt15239678/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">$700 million worldwide</a> to date.</p><p>There's also the exclusivity that comes with an Imax 70mm release, as only 30 theaters in the world are capable of showing a movie in that format.</p><p>In "Joker: Folie à Deux," which was shot with Imax-certified cameras, Joaquin Phoenix returns to play the role of Arthur Fleck, aka Joker. Lady Gaga joins the franchise as Joker's love interest, Harley Quinn.</p><p>2019's "Joker" was a huge success, earning <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7286456/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">over $1 billion at the worldwide box office</a>. It is also the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever at the worldwide box office. The movie also received 11 Oscar nominations with wins for Best Actor (Phoenix) and Best Original Score.</p><p>"Joker: Folie à Deux" opens in theaters on October 4.</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Axs2syoqIIk?si=b15jXg7YgaGZuERv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0"></iframe>

'Joker 2' will be available in Imax 70mm, CEO says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A "Joker" sequel titled "Joker: Folie à Deux" is set for release on October 4.</li><li>The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. </li></ul><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joaquin-phoenix-fainted-beau-is-afraid-after-filming-intense-scene-2023-4">Joaquin Phoenix</a> is brushing off his dancing shoes and reapplying clown makeup to reprise his role as Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips' upcoming "Joker" sequel.</p><p>"Joker: Folie à Deux" stars Phoenix as the titular DC Comics villain and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-facts-about-lady-gaga">Lady Gaga</a> as the iconic character Harley Quinn.</p><p>Since Warner Bros. debuted the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-2-trailer-joaquin-phoenix-and-lady-gaga-shine-2024-4?">first trailer</a> at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the internet has been <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/kirawontmiss/status/1777879224881189077">buzzing</a> with anticipation for "Joker 2." It's no surprise considering the response to Phillips' 2019 film "Joker," which was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-grossing-movies-box-office-2017-1">first R-rated movie to cross $1 billion globally</a> at the box office and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oscars-2020-nominations-winners-list-2020-1">won two Oscars</a> for best actor (Phoenix) and best original score (Hildur Guðnadóttir).</p><p>With a <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/warner-bros-spending-joker-2-budget-tom-cruise-deal-1235917640/">reported</a> $200 million budget for "Folie à Deux," the stakes couldn't be higher.</p><p>Here's everything we know about the "Joker" sequel.</p><h2>The 'Joker 2' cast includes Phoenix and Gaga, plus some new faces</h2><div type="image" title="Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in the first teaser trailer for &quot;Joker: Folie à Deux.&quot;" height="2017" width="3840" msid="109205161" hostid="261" sizebytes="94298"></div><p><a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2022/08/joker-folie-a-deux-zazie-beetz-1235087562/">Deadline</a> reported in 2022 that Zazie Beetz would reprise her role as Sophie Dumond in the sequel. In the first film, her character, a single mom who lives in the same apartment as Arthur, seems like Arthur's love interest until a major plot twist reveals that their budding romance is a figment of Arthur's imagination.</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xy8aJw1vYHo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" title="Joker: Folie à Deux | Official Teaser Trailer"></iframe><p>Deadline later reported several more actors who landed roles in "Joker 2": <a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2022/09/joker-folie-a-deux-brendan-gleeson-1235105442/">Brendan Gleeson</a> ("The Banshees of Inisherin"), <a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2022/09/joker-folie-a-deux-catherine-keener-1235109456/">Catherine Keener</a> ("Being John Malkovich"), and <a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2022/10/joker-folie-a-deux-adds-industry-star-harry-lawtey-1235150245/">Harry Lawtey</a> ("Industry").</p><p>The trailer for "Folie à Deux" also revealed that actor and comedian Steve Coogan has a surprise role in the movie.</p><h2>The sequel is a musical and will reportedly include at least 15 covers of popular songs</h2><div type="image" title="Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux.&quot;" height="2000" width="3840" msid="109205162" hostid="261" sizebytes="141374"></div><p>The first trailer showed Arthur and Harley dancing on rooftops, stages, and the streets of Gotham City. According to <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/joker-2-musical-cover-songs-original-tracks-1235949284/">Variety</a>, the movie will be "mostly a jukebox musical," and contain at least 15 new versions of "very well-known" tracks.</p><p>"Joker 2" being a musical isn't too far out of left-field considering the first film contained musically driven moments like Phoenix's villain memorably dancing on a set of stairs in the Bronx.</p><p>"I think people will be surprised. I don't think it's going to be what they expect, around it being musical," Beetz told <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/zazie-beetz-joker-2-musical-lady-gaga-1235642306/">Variety</a> in June. "We all sort of express musically and dancing in our lives day-to-day. I think it's going to work really well."</p><p>Director Phillips shared similar comments at CinemaCon when asked if the movie is a musical.</p><p>"We never really talked about it like that, but I like to say it's a film where music is an essential element. To me, that doesn't veer too far from the first film," he said. "Arthur's weird and aloof and all these things"</p><p>"That informed a lot of the dancing in the first film... it didn't feel like that big of a step here," he added. "It's different, but I think it'll make sense when you see it."</p><h2>The 'Joker 2' plot will focus on the Joker's romance with Harley Quinn</h2><div type="image" title="Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in &quot;Joker: Folie à Deux.&quot;" height="2022" width="3840" msid="109205164" hostid="261" sizebytes="80488"></div><p>"Joker" centered on Arthur's descent into villainy after becoming disillusioned by his life as a struggling comedian in Gotham City. At the end of the film, he is locked up in Arkham Asylum and is seen speaking with a social worker.</p><p>Plot details surrounding "Joker 2" remain tightly under wraps, but the first trailer shows Arthur and Harley's first meeting at Arkham Asylum. Unlike the comics, though, this version of Harley is a fellow inmate, not Arthur's psychiatrist, at the asylum. After presumably breaking out of the asylum together, the pair are seen dancing and causing mayhem in town.</p><h2>The 'Joker: Folie à Deux' release date is Friday, October 4</h2><div type="image" title="Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker in &quot;Joker: Folie à Deux.&quot;" height="1985" width="3840" msid="109205165" hostid="261" sizebytes="59820"></div><p>The film arrives in theaters this fall.</p><p>Imax CEO Richard Gelfond told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-2-imax-70mm-2024-4">Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio</a> at CinemaCon that "Joker 2" will also be available to watch in Imax 70mm — a format typically reserved for large-scale movies directed by filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve.</p><p><em>This is a developing story. Check back for updates.</em></p>

'Joker 2' is a musical starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga — here's everything we know

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The first trailer for "Joker: Folie à Deux" screened at CinemaCon on Tuesday night.</li><li>Director Todd Phillips said, "Lady Gaga is magic," when asked why she was cast to play Harley Quinn.</li></ul><p>During the Warner Bros. presentation on Tuesday at CinemaCon, the annual movie-theater convention in Las Vegas, the trailer for "Joker: Folie à Deux," the sequel to the studio's 2019 hit movie <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-review-a-chilling-story-with-a-real-world-feel-2019-9">"Joker,"</a> was unveiled for the first time and received thunderous applause.</p><p>The trailer featured Joaquin Phoenix returning to play the role of Arthur Fleck, aka Joker, along with the addition of Lady Gaga to the franchise, as she plays Joker's love interest, Harley Quinn.</p><p>"Joaquin and I always talked about doing a sequel while making the first movie," director Todd Phillips told the CinemaCon audience. "But we didn't want to jinx it. But then the pandemic hit, and we talked more and decided to do it."</p><p>"Lady Gaga is magic, and when we wrote the script, we kept thinking about her," Phillips added about adding Lady Gaga to the cast.</p><p>Phillips also added about the reports of the movie having a musical vibe.</p><p>"We never talked about it as a musical, Phillips said. "Music is an essential element, just like the first movie. It didn't feel like a big step. It will all make sense when you see it."</p><p>"Joker: Folie à Deux" opens in theaters on October 4.</p><p>2019's "Joker" was a huge success, earning <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7286456/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">over $1 billion at the worldwide box office</a>. It is also the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever at the worldwide box office. The movie also received 11 Oscar nominations with wins for Best Actor (Phoenix) and Best Original Score.</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xy8aJw1vYHo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" title="Joker: Folie à Deux | Official Teaser Trailer"></iframe>

The first 'Joker 2' trailer looks as chilling and twisted as the first movie

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"Joker 2" cinematographer Lawrence Sher said that Lady Gaga stayed in character on set.</li><li>Gaga insisted on being called "Lee" on set, he said.</li></ul><p>Lady Gaga insisted on being called "Lee" on the set of "Joker: Folie à Deux," according to the film's cinematographer.</p><p>Gaga, <a href="https://www.insider.com/singers-musicians-real-names">whose real name is Stefani Germanotta,</a> announced <a href="https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/1555222357882458114">via Twitter</a> that she will be <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joker-2-lady-gaga-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-in-musical-1235154135/">joining Joaquin Phoenix</a> in the sequel last year. She is set to play Harley Quinn, who historically has a toxic romance with the titular character.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbRTOFqI4VE&amp;t=1s">During an appearance on "The Trenches Talk" podcast on Wednesday</a>, Lawrence Sher, the cinematographer for both "Joker" and its upcoming sequel, said that he felt he never met the real Gaga because she was committed to being in character while on set.</p><p>"I remember I didn't know Stefani at all and, strangely, I felt like I never really met her even during the makeup/hair test," Sher said.</p><p>"I remember for a week being like, 'God, I feel like we were like disconnecting, not even connecting. We're on opposites,'" Sher went on. "And I would say to my crew like, 'Jesus, I can't crack it. I feel like she either hates me or we hate each other or there's something weird going on here.'"</p><p>He continued: "I barely said anything except I would say like, 'Stefani,  this is where your second team was' or whatever. It was, like, minor little things."</p><div type="image" title="Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix on the set of &quot;Joker: Folie à Deux&quot;" height="1500" width="2000" msid="102012580" hostid="261"></div><p>According to Sher, an assistant director eventually told the cinematographer to call Gaga "Lee" on set instead of her real name so she could stay in character. Lee appears to be an abbreviated version of Harley.</p><p>"I was like, 'Oh, 100%.' And then literally the next thing I said was something 'Lee,' and it was like everything changed," said Sher. "From that point on it was like her whole connection changed and I was like, 'Well, alright, cool.' That's all I needed to know and that changed everything."</p><p>Sher was used to actors staying in character because he said Phoenix also stayed in character on the set of the first "Joker" movie.</p><p>"With him, I remember early on, he was like 100% in character all the time, and day two, he quietly came to me and he said, 'I'm sorry for being whatever, like weird. I just need to stay,'" Sher recalled. "And I was like, 'Oh jeez, please don't even. Stop apologizing. Just do your thing. Don't worry about it all.'"</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/lady-gaga-italian-accent-method-acting-house-of-gucci-2021-11">This is not the first time Gaga has used method acting for a movie role.</a></p><div type="image" title="Lady Gaga pointing to her ring" height="720" width="960" msid="102012585" hostid="261"></div><p>In 2021, the "Poker Face" singer told <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/lady-gaga-interview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">British Vogue</a> that she lived as her "House of Gucci" character Patrizia Reggiani "for a year and a half" and spoke with an "Italian accent for nine months" during the filming process.</p><p>Because she <a href="https://www.insider.com/house-of-gucci-trailer-lady-gaga-adam-driver-jared-leto-2021-7" rel=""> "never broke" character</a>, Gaga said she eventually <a href="https://www.insider.com/lady-gaga-house-of-gucci-psychiatric-nurse-on-set-2021-12">struggled to adjust to her normal life again after the shoot.</a></p><p>"I had some psychological difficulty at one point towards the end of filming," she said. "I was either in my hotel room, living and speaking as Reggiani, or I was on set, living and speaking as her. I remember I went out into Italy one day with a hat on to take a walk. I hadn't taken a walk in about two months and I panicked."</p>

Lady Gaga insisted on being called 'Lee' on the set of 'Joker 2,' says cinematographer

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg warned his already nervous staff that they might hear "fictional explosions" near their office.</li><li>A scene from "Joker: Folie à Deux" will include explosions and hundreds of protestors, according to reports.</li></ul><p>As a possible indictment against former President Donald Trump nears, the scene around the Manhattan courthouse where the grand jury has been meeting has grown increasingly hectic.</p><p>There's been crowds of media and police, increased security measures, violent threats, a package of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/police-say-package-containing-powder-delivered-to-manhattan-da-office-2023-3">"suspicious white powder,"</a> and now, warnings of "fictitious explosions" from a movie shoot.</p><p>Staff at the Manhattan district attorney's office have faced growing threats, both online and otherwise, prompting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to <a href="https://twitter.com/molcranenewman/status/1639368058077626368?s=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warn them that any explosions</a> they hear over the weekend are likely not real. </p><p>That's because nearby a film crew is working on the sequel to the "Joker" right outside their offices. </p><p>The DA's office is on Hogan Place in lower Manhattan, just steps away from the Manhattan Criminal Court building, where wild scenes from "Joker: Folie à Deux" are scheduled to film on Saturday and Sunday, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-news-ny-grand-jury-indictment-live-updates-rcna76028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>. The scene is expected to include explosions, some 700 protestors, and <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lady-gaga-films-upcoming-joker-144508183.html?guccounter=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lady Gaga</a>, who plays Harley Quinn. </p><p>In <a href="https://twitter.com/molcranenewman/status/1639368058077626368?s=20">a memo to his staff</a> on Friday, Bragg warned that the office had "seen reports that a movie filming outside of 60 Centre Street this weekend may include fictional explosions, which may be audible to those of you working over the weekend." </p><p>Bragg's warning came after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/police-say-package-containing-powder-delivered-to-manhattan-da-office-2023-3">a package with "suspicious white powder"</a> arrived at the address where the grand jury is meeting. The package included a note to Bragg that said "ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"</p><p>"You may see reports about an envelope of white powder that was sent to the office. We want you to know that it was immediately contained in a secure location to prevent potential exposure," Bragg wrote in the memo, which was first shared on Twitter by New York Daily News reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/molcranenewman/status/1639368058077626368?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly Crane-Newman</a>. Bragg added that officials deemed the substance in the envelope was not dangerous. </p><p>Bragg continued: "I know some of you have received offensive or threatening phone calls or emails directly to your desk lines. I am very sorry that you have had to endure these distressing disruptions to your workdays." </p><p>The grand jury likely heard its last witness last week and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-hush-money-grand-jury-pause-in-case-this-week-2023-3">an indictment could come</a> as early as Monday. Bragg has been investigating Trump over <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-indictment-new-york-stormy-daniels-hush-money-timeline-2023-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hush money paid to Stormy Daniels</a>, an adult film star who claims to have had an affair with the former president.</p><p>Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has called the investigation a politically-biased "witch hunt." </p>

Manhattan DA warns staff they might hear 'fictional explosions' as Lady Gaga films 'Joker' sequel nearby and threats loom over Trump investigation

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips are each reportedly getting $20 million for the "Joker" sequel.</li><li>Lady Gaga is getting $10 million, according to Variety.</li></ul><p>The "Joker" sequel, "Joker: Folie à Deux," is coming to theaters in 2024, and the stars and director are reportedly getting big paydays for the movie.</p><p>Star Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips are each making $20 million for the movie, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/news/dc-films-kevin-feige-batgirl-joker-2-walter-hamada-david-zaslav-1235337927/">Variety</a>. Lady Gaga, who is a new addition to the cast for the sequel, is set to make $10 million, Variety reported.</p><p>Representatives for Phoenix, Phillips, and Lady Gaga  did not immediately return requests for comment. </p><p>Phoenix's salary is significantly more than what it was for the first movie. He was paid $4.5 million for that movie, which was released in 2019, <a href="https://variety.com/2019/film/news/celebrity-salaries-leonardo-dicaprio-margot-robbie-dwayne-johnson-will-smith-1203200508/">Variety</a> reported at the time. And its production budget was $55 million — a modest sum compared to big-budget comic book movies that typically push $200 million or more.</p><p>But "Joker" was a huge hit, earning over $1 billion at the global box office and nabbing 11 Oscar nominations (including a best-actor win for Phoenix), which would demand higher salaries for Phoenix and Phillips.</p><p>Factoring in their salaries and the added star power of Lady Gaga, the costs for the "Joker" sequel could be higher than the first movie. But Warner Bros. is likely anticipating more box-office success.</p>

'Joker' sequel stars Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix are reportedly getting massive paydays of $10 million and $20 million

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b06d9481ae66219008b463b-1138/woman glass .jpg" border="0" alt="woman glass " data-mce-source="Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock" data-link="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/reflection-womans-face-broken-mirror-1063377053?src=VmSAiv1G1sfeRmuMivAcbw-1-71" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/reflection-womans-face-broken-mirror-1063377053?src=VmSAiv1G1sfeRmuMivAcbw-1-71">Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>A London couple have been convicted of killing and burning the body of a woman called Sophie Lionnet.</strong></li><li><strong>The court heard they had been afflicted with folie À deux, or "madness of two."</strong></li><li><strong>One of the pair became paranoid that Lionnet had run off with her ex, whom she was obsessed with.</strong></li><li><strong>It is a rare psychological phenomenon but there have been several cases of shared delusions.</strong></li><li><strong>Sometimes it can involve more than two people.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p><br />On Thursday May 24, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-london-couple-convicted-of-murdering-nanny-burning-her-body-2018-5?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a couple were found guilty of murdering their French nanny</a> and burning her body on a bonfire in their London backyard.</p><p>After six days of jury deliberation, 35-year-old Sabrina Kouider and 40-year-old Ouissem Medouni were found guilty of killing Sophie Lionnet, a 21-year-old French nanny, after beating, starving, and torturing her over a bizarre paranoid delusions about Mark Walton - Kouider's ex-boyfriend and a founding member of the pop group Boyzone.</p><p>The court heard that the couple had been afflicted with <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252781/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a psychosis known as folie À deux</a>, or "madness of two," which is where delusions are shared between people.</p><p>Kouider lived in a warped reality, allegedly due to her bipolar disorder and depression, and Medouni was a willing party in it. Kouider was apparently obsessed with her ex-boyfriend, reported him to police over 30 times, and falsely accused him of paedophilia on Facebook.</p><p>Other strange accusations included him hiring a helicopter to spy on her, and sexually abusing a cat.</p><p>Kouider also reported to the police that Lionnet had run off with Walton, which was the primary reason the couple locked her up. In the final days before she died, Lionnet was subjected to horrific abuse including being hit with an electric cable and being beaten so badly she had five broken ribs and a cracked breast bone.</p><p>In court, Kouider and Medouni blamed each other for Lionnet's death, still making accusations against her, which the judge concluded had "no truth whatsoever."</p><p>Folie À deux, or Shared Psychotic Disorder, can occasionally involve more people with close bonds known as folie À trois, folie À quatre, or folie en famille (family madness). It was first conceptualised in the 19th century by Charles Lasègue and Jean-Pierre Falret.</p><p>It is not listed as a separate disorder in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5, but is included under the schizophrenic spectrum and other psychotic disorders.</p><p>The first known case study appears in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncommon-Psychiatric-Syndromes-Hodder-Publication/dp/0340763884" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enoch and Ball's "Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes,"</a> which involved a woman called Margaret and her husband Michael in the 19th century. Both were 24 years old, and were found to be sharing paranoid delusions about an invader. They believed someone was coming into their house, spreading dust, and wearing down their shoes.</p><p>Essentially, Margaret and Michael got themselves into a feedback loop where they reinforced each other's delusions.</p><p>Folie À deux is most common between romantic couples, but it can also occur with siblings. For example, in <a href="http://jaapl.org/content/34/4/511.full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one case involving three sisters</a>, two moved into a house near the third to help her care for her children. Over time they all became closer and more heavily involved with religion.</p><p>The youngest sister then started thinking the Bible was full of inconsistencies and became determined to correct them. The sisters ended up praying nonstop for three days without sleeping, then became convinced God wanted them to have a particular house in the town that didn't belong to them.</p><p>They went round demanding to be let in, breaking down windows and attacking the owner until they police arrived. They were arrested, and put in the same holding cell where they continued to pray and sing while naked, and occasionally attacked the guards.</p><p>In 2016, there was a case of a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-37293494" target="_blank" rel="noopener">family of five who disappeared on a road trip</a>. Mark and Jacoba Tromp took their three adult children and fled their home, travelling over 1,600 km in a week across the US state of Victoria. They had been suffering from increasing signs of stress and paranoia, and were convinced someone was going to rob and kill them.</p><p>One of the sons, Mitchell, was apparently the only one not succumbing to the psychosis. He was the only one to keep ahold of his phone, but as his parents became more delusional, they made him throw it out the window because they thought they were being tracked.</p><p>In the case of the sisters, all they needed was separation. Once they had some time away from each other, their psychosis vanished without any need for medication. But in some cases, like that of Kouider and Medouni, delusion can be more heavily imposed by one partner.</p><p><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/24/couple-found-guilty-killing-french-nanny-obsession-ex-boyzone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to The Telegraph</a>, Kouider was "the star of her own fantasy film noir - and she cast Sophie Lionnet as the enemy." She was described by ex-partners as manipulative, fickle, and a "lunatic," while Medouni was "weak" and "easily led."</p><p>In cases where separation isn't enough, doctors usually treat extreme cases of psychosis with anti-psychotic medications. It is unclear whether Kouider is being given treatment, but she was being held at a medium secure mental hospital before the trial.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-wendys-burger-king-arbys-jack-in-the-box-red-logos-2018-5">Why so many fast food logos are red</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/D1MkCSwn-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

You Searched For "Joker Folie a Deux" and got 9 results

Joaquin Phoenix recalls Lady Gaga's reaction when she heard him sing in 'Joker: Folie a Deux'

ANI

Stree 2, Venom and more: Upcoming movie releases of 2024

BI India Bureau

'Joker 2' will be available in Imax 70mm, CEO says

Jason Guerrasio

'Joker 2' is a musical starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga — here's everything we know

Olivia Singh

The first 'Joker 2' trailer looks as chilling and twisted as the first movie

Jason Guerrasio

Lady Gaga insisted on being called 'Lee' on the set of 'Joker 2,' says cinematographer

Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Manhattan DA warns staff they might hear 'fictional explosions' as Lady Gaga films 'Joker' sequel nearby and threats loom over Trump investigation

Katie Balevic

'Joker' sequel stars Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix are reportedly getting massive paydays of $10 million and $20 million

Travis Clark

A court has heard how a couple who murdered a young woman and burned her body were afflicted by 'folie a deux' - here's what it means

Lindsay Dodgson

You Searched For "Joker Folie a Deux" and got 9 results

Joaquin Phoenix recalls Lady Gaga's reaction when she heard him sing in 'Joker: Folie a Deux'

ANI

​Stree 2, Venom and more: Upcoming movie releases of 2024​

BI India Bureau

'Joker 2' will be available in Imax 70mm, CEO says

Jason Guerrasio

'Joker 2' is a musical starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga — here's everything we know

Olivia Singh

The first 'Joker 2' trailer looks as chilling and twisted as the first movie

Jason Guerrasio

Lady Gaga insisted on being called 'Lee' on the set of 'Joker 2,' says cinematographer

Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Manhattan DA warns staff they might hear 'fictional explosions' as Lady Gaga films 'Joker' sequel nearby and threats loom over Trump investigation

Katie Balevic

'Joker' sequel stars Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix are reportedly getting massive paydays of $10 million and $20 million

Travis Clark

A court has heard how a couple who murdered a young woman and burned her body were afflicted by 'folie a deux' - here's what it means

Lindsay Dodgson

Stree 2, Venom and more: Upcoming movie releases of 2024