So, you thought Joker was just about Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness? Well, turns out the drama wasn’t all onscreen. Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro, two of the biggest names in Hollywood, actually clashed during the making of the 2019 film. And let me tell you, it was as awkward as you’d imagine!
Here’s the deal: Phoenix, who thrives on spontaneity, HATES rehearsals. Yeah, that’s right—hates them. In fact, he likes to dive headfirst into his characters, living them, breathing them, and maybe even refusing to go through a script like the rest of us mere mortals would. But Robert De Niro? TOTAL opposite. The man is a legend for a reason, and he sticks to the script, rehearsals, and… table reads.
What’s a table read, you ask? Picture this: the entire cast sitting around, reading through the whole script. Pretty standard, right? Except Joaquin loathes it. So when De Niro insisted on one for Joker, Phoenix was all, “Nope, not doing it.” A fight broke out—not the kind with fists flying, but trust me, the tension was thicker than Gotham’s smog.
In the end, Phoenix reluctantly attended the read-through, but you could probably cut the awkwardness with a knife. Apparently, he mumbled his lines and bailed as soon as possible for a smoke break! De Niro, never one to back down, tried to pull Phoenix into a heart-to-heart chat, but Phoenix was like, “Nah, I’m out.”
But here’s the kicker: despite the clash, they never really spoke during filming. Yes, you heard that right. These two barely exchanged words outside their scenes, and it kinda worked! Their onscreen tension? TOTALLY real. De Niro’s character, Murray Franklin, was pretty much dismissive of Arthur Fleck in the movie, and Phoenix kept that vibe alive in real life too. Maybe method acting has its perks?
In the end, Joker was a massive success—over $1 billion at the box office! And while Phoenix may have won the Oscar for Best Actor, De Niro’s old-school methods clearly held their ground. So, who’s to say which style is better? But one thing’s for sure: this IRL beef only added to the drama behind the scenes.
Key Takeaways from This Real-Life Joker Feud:
- Joaquin Phoenix hates rehearsals. He relies on spontaneity to fuel his performances.
- Robert De Niro is a stickler for structure and routine—he likes to hear every bit of the script.
- Tensions ran high when these two opposite acting styles collided, leading to a pretty awkward start on set.
- Despite the rocky start, their chemistry somehow worked perfectly onscreen!
Final Thoughts? Even if Phoenix wasn’t a fan of rehearsals, we can’t deny that their awkwardness and tension added layers to their performances in Joker. Sometimes, friction isn’t such a bad thing after all.