Why Is The Joker’s Name Arthur Fleck In Joker?

Despite not that includes Batman, Joker was an enormous success, but it surely modified a number of the Clown Prince of Crime’s lore, together with his identify. The 2019 film instructed the origin story of the long-lasting DC villain, and whereas there have been many alternative origins for the character within the comics, his background had by no means actually been explored in any of the flicks.

Joker follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a struggling humorist who’s pushed to homicide after being bullied. The movie is stuffed with thriller and leads audiences to query what’s actual and what’s not, together with whether or not Arthur is Thomas Wayne’s son, probably making him Bruce Wayne’s half-brother. The sequel continued Arthur’s story and by the end of Joker: Folie à Deux, that story reaches its conclusion.

Joker deviated from the supply materials rather a lot, and it labored for essentially the most half, because the film managed to gross over $1 billion worldwide regardless of having a comparatively small funds of $60 million. However, one attention-grabbing alternative made that does not observe the lore in any respect is the antagonist’s identify within the movie. Arthur Fleck is a very authentic identify in the case of the Joker, because it has by no means as soon as been his given identify, an alias, or the rest. In a film stuffed with plot twists, the seemingly random identify of Arthur Fleck is without doubt one of the largest head-scratchers, however there’s a proof behind it.

Who Is Arthur Fleck? Everything We Know About Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker Character

In Joker, Arthur Fleck labored as a clown, however had goals of being a comic. He lives together with his mom, who instructed him that he was on earth to make individuals comfortable, which Joker: Folie à Deux reveals was a lie that she instructed him. Arthur’s life spins uncontrolled throughout the course of Joker, and he murders three Wayne Enterprise staff, a co-worker, his mom, and Murray Franklin on stay tv. Right earlier than showing on The Murray Franklin Show, Fleck adopts the Joker moniker and his actions result in being seen as a hero to many in Gotham.

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Joaquin Phoenix as Joker and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in front of Looney Tunes That's All Folks

What Joker 2’s Post-Credit Scene Could Have Been (If It Had One)

Joker: Folie à Deux doesn’t have a post-credits scene, however a couple of issues may have been teased after the film if it did.

Joker: Folie à Deux sees Arthur Fleck in Arkham Asylum, ready trial for his crimes. The cast of Joker: Folie à Deux consists of many who look as much as the Joker, together with Lee Quinn, who he falls in love with. During the course of the trial, Arthur’s emotions about Joker change, and he confesses to his crimes, basically confirming he was by no means Joker, and it was only a persona he made up.

What Is Joker’s Real Name In The Comics?

One of essentially the most intriguing features of Joker as a personality is that his backstory isn’t actually touched upon. Of course, there are moments within the comics that specify a couple of issues, however largely his complete backstory is up within the air. Because of that, the Joker’s identify isn’t normally talked about and even touched upon. It’s a thriller as a lot as he’s. In different media, he has been named a couple of instances, together with within the 1989 Batman movie the place his precise identify was Jack Napier.

Arthur Fleck Isn’t Even His Real Name

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck In Joker

Following the altercation with Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen) when Arthur confronts him about probably being his father, it is revealed that not solely is the billionaire not his dad, however Penny Fleck (Frances Conroy) is not even his organic mom, both. Arthur finds adoption papers displaying that Penny adopted him as a child and named him Arthur.

Joker: Folie à Deux
confirms that Arthur Fleck was adopted throughout the trial, as some occasions of the primary movie may have simply been in his head.

This signifies that he could have had a special identify earlier than he was adopted. However, not one of the info given to the viewers is 100% true, as Arthur is an unreliable narrator, and on condition that Thomas Wayne has motives of his personal, he may simply as simply be mendacity and have cast adoption papers.

A Theory Suggests It’s A Reference To Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck as Batman in Suicide Squad looking offscreen

While Joker is packed with DC Easter eggs, the primary character’s identify may very well be one, too. Arthur Fleck is an oddly particular surname, and whereas it may very well be pulled out of nowhere by author/director Todd Phillips, a concept means that it is really a cheeky reference to Ben Affleck. The character’s identify sounds rather a lot like Affleck when shortened to A. Fleck.

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Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker In Front of TV Screens and a Video Repair Shop

Did Joker 2 Confirm It’s Set in Another Batman Universe?

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker has lengthy been theorized to happen in an present Batman universe, however does Joker: Folie à Deux affirm that?

There is not a lot weight behind the speculation aside from the truth that Affleck performed Batman within the DCEU, however even then, Joker is a standalone film and sits fully outdoors that universe. However, it is fully believable that Phillips, recognized for comedies like The Hangover, would make such a joke.

Joker Has Had Many Different Names

Arthur Fleck becoming the Joker with a blood smile in Joker (2019)

There are so many alternative variations of the Joker, a few of that are working alongside one another, as The Batman options the Joker and the DCU will introduce a brand new incarnation, too. A whole lot of them have totally different names, and that is if their names are even revealed, whether or not it is Joe Kerr, Oberon Sexton, or Melvin White. And although their names are most frequently Jack or a by-product of Jack, resembling Jack Napier or Jack White, they’re nonetheless totally different names. That signifies that there’s in the end nobody proper reply to what the Joker’s identify is, and Arthur Fleck in Joker is pretty much as good as any.