At the Venice Film Festival, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix discussed the challenges of creating the highly anticipated sequel, 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Phillips admitted to feeling more nervous about this film than the original, while Phoenix spoke about the physical difficulty of losing weight for the role, compounded by extensive dance rehearsals. Phoenix, now 49, indicated this might be his last extreme transformation for a role. Both Phoenix and his co-star Lady Gaga underwent significant physical changes for their roles. The film, a musical sequel, continues the story of Arthur Fleck and introduces Harley Quinn, played by Gaga. The original 'Joker' film was a massive success, winning multiple awards and grossing over a billion dollars globally.