Dark, music-filled 'Joker' sequel brings Lady Gaga star power to Venice

VENICE, Italy — A dark and music-filled "Joker" sequel brought Lady Gaga to Venice, playing the star-crossed love interest of the DC Comics-inspired anti-hero in one of the year's most anticipated films.

The megastar was the main attraction at the world premiere of "Joker: Folie a Deux" at the Venice Film Festival, one of 21 films vying for the top Golden Lion prize at the prestigious competition.

Todd Phillips's 2019 film starring Joaquin Phoenix subverted the codes of superhero films in a disturbing commentary on alienation in American society, with the film going on to win at Venice that year and handing a Best Actor Academy Award to Phoenix.

On the red carpet, Lady Gaga drew screams from fans, where she showed off an elaborate mask that suggested two pointy Batman ears draped with a swathe of Venetian lace, paired with a black velvet gown with a generous taffeta skirt.

Ahead of Wednesday's premiere, the pop star and actress confessed to having been "deeply moved" by the original film, in which an ignored, mocked and mentally ill stand-up comic, Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), is driven to violence.

"The first film really deeply moved me, I loved it so much," Lady Gaga told a press conference, calling Phoenix's performance one that "set the bar extremely high."

"I think sometimes when stories are told about people that are maybe misunderstood by society, the director gives you a chance... to really take a hard look at that world in a deeper way," Lady Gaga said. "I felt like when I watched the first film I got to understand something I may not have seen before, that's why I did this movie."

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The sequel heavily relies on musical numbers to express the inner feelings of Fleck, in dark, brooding renditions of classics such as "Get Happy" or "For Once in my Life."

Phoenix told journalists how he "had this dream that I was performing as Joker doing songs and I just called Todd because I thought there might be something there."

That idea took flight, and Lady Gaga was the next piece of the puzzle, Phillips said.

Both actors sang live on set, Phoenix said, an element that created a "necessary" energy.

"Early