Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Pheonix recently opened up about the film’s controversial ending and they are both defending it. Spoilers ahead! At the end of the film, Art

Another thing about Joker 2 that both journalists and moviegoers have pointed out: the idea that the film – particularly its shocking ending and implications of who the real Joker is – is a direct rebuke of the fans who embraced the first film and made it a $1 billion hit.

Joker: Folie à Deux ended with a tragic turn, but director Todd Phillips confirmed it still left Arthur Fleck finally redeemed. The director also staged the perfect setup for that shocking twist no one saw coming.

Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Phillips has broken down the reasoning behind the most controversial storytelling beats in his sequel.