10 Biggest Changes Joker 2 Makes To Harvey Dent

Joker: Folie a Deux introduced the classic Batman character Harvey Dent, but some very notable changes to him. DC’s Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the groundbreaking 2019 film Joker, brings a new layer of complexity to the story of Gotham City and its iconic characters. Continuing its explorations of themes like mental illness and societal decay, Joker: Folie a Deux incorporates classic DC characters, reimagined for Arthur Fleck’s grim vision of Gotham.

Harvey Dent was originally one of Batman’s key allies, but after receiving a life-changing injury, becomes the supervillain Two-Face. Harvey Dent in Joker: Folie a Deux is portrayed by Harry Lawtey. The film reimagines Dent’s role within the context of Arthur Fleck’s descent into chaos, providing an opportunity to explore the interconnectedness of their fates. As Gotham’s landscape shifts, Dent’s character evolves in ways that challenge audience expectations, showcasing how the Joker’s actions influence not just his own path, but also those of pivotal figures like Dent.

10 Harvey Dent Was Disfigured By A Car Bomb

In The Comics Dent Was Injured In An Acid Attack

In a significant departure from comic book tradition, Joker: Folie à Deux depicts Harvey Dent’s disfigurement as a result of a car bomb explosion. This bomb is detonated by one of Joker’s followers outside the courthouse. This dramatic incident encapsulates the chaotic atmosphere of Gotham City, where the line between justice and madness blurs.

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Joker: Folie a Deux is set in a far more bleak and grimy world than usual, and as such made some notable changes to DC characters and narratives.

In the comics, Dent’s transformation into Two-Face occurs when Salvator Maroni throws acid in his face during a trial. However, in this iteration, Dent’s injuries are collateral damage in a broader conflict fueled by the Joker’s reign of terror. This change highlights the randomness of violence in Arthur Fleck’s world, reflecting how Dent, despite his intentions to uphold the law, becomes ensnared in the Joker’s chaotic schemes. The car bomb serves as the new catalyst for Dent’s transformation, setting the stage for his eventual downfall into madness.

9 Two-Face’s Injuries Were Not A Purposeful Attack

In The Comics Dent Was Injured On Purpose

In Joker: Folie à Deux, Harvey Dent’s injuries are depicted as unintended consequences of the car bomb explosion, further distancing this portrayal from traditional comic book narratives. Unlike the comics, where Dent was the deliberate target due to his role as a prosecutor against Gotham’s crime families, the film presents his disfigurement as a tragic accident. He is caught in the blast, but the bomb was not specifically aimed at him; rather, it is a manifestation of the Joker’s broader chaos.

This nuance shifts the focus from a targeted vendetta to the indiscriminate violence that permeates Gotham, highlighting the pervasive nature of fear and unpredictability. By making Dent an innocent victim of circumstance, the film adds layers to his character, positioning him as a tragic figure whose transformation into Two-Face is predicated by chaos that surrounds him. Moreover, it makes Dent another victim in the chaos wrought by Joker’s actions.

8 Harvey Dent Is Much Older Than Bruce Wayne

In The Comics Dent Is The Same Age As Bruce Wayne

Another significant change in Joker: Folie à Deux is the age disparity between Harvey Dent and Bruce Wayne. In most comic book narratives, Dent and Wayne are typically portrayed as contemporaries, often battling against Gotham’s crime together. However, in 2019’s Joker, Bruce Wayne is introduced as a child, which suggests a considerable age difference between him and Dent.

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Set just two years after Joker, Bruce Wayne would still be a child in Joker Folie a Deux – though he does not appear. This is a notable departure from DC Comics’ lore, in which Dent and Wayne work together and consider each other friends. Instead, Dent has achieved his impressive career and received his disfiguring injuries while Bruce Wayne was still a teenager. This deviation works because Joker and Joker: Folie a Deux are not considered part of the DCU timeline, allowing for some creative license.

7 Dent Presumably Hasn’t Teamed Up With Batman Or Commissioner Gordon To Clean Up Gotham

In The Comics Dent Is A Righteous Hero

In traditional Batman comic book lore, Harvey Dent is a steadfast ally of Batman and Commissioner Gordon, who work together collaboratively to clean up Gotham. Given Bruce Wayne’s youth and the absence of a fully developed police force led by Gordon, Dent’s role as a prosecutor in Joker: Folie a Deux exists in isolation from the iconic duo. As such, Dent received his injuries before he could team up with the iconic law-keepers.

This change in Joker: Folie a Deux reflects a Gotham City in disarray, where the mechanisms of justice are fragmented, leaving Dent to navigate his challenges alone. This isolation serves to amplify Dent’s desperation and disillusionment, setting the stage for his eventual fall into the darkness that defines Two-Face. One drawback from this change is that Dent’s virtuous characteristics were not fully showcased before he was injured.

6 Harvey Dent Believes In The Death Penalty

In The Comics Dent Is A Bastion Of Justice

In a notable departure from his character in the comics, Joker: Folie à Deux presents Harvey Dent as a proponent of the death penalty. In the film, he publicly calls for Arthur Fleck to receive capital punishment for his crimes, portraying a more punitive perspective on justice. Traditionally, Dent is characterized as a champion of justice who grapples with the morality of capital punishment, often arguing against its application.

This alteration in his beliefs adds complexity to his character, showcasing a more vengeful and less nuanced approach to justice. This change in Joker: Folie a Deux suggests that Dent, in the face of Gotham’s escalating violence and chaos, has become hardened and willing to embrace extreme measures. His belief in the death penalty reflects the pervasive sense of urgency and fear in a city where the boundaries of morality are increasingly blurred.

5 Harvey Dent Does Not Have His Signature Coin

In The Comics Dent Carries A Coin Everywhere

One of the defining traits of Harvey Dent in the comics is his use of a two-headed coin, which he uses to make decisions and symbolize the duality of his character. Joker: Folie à Deux, Dent is notably without his iconic coin. Though Dent’s coin is typically associated with his Two-Face personality, modern origin stories suggest he used a coin to help him make decisions as a child, and kept the coin into adulthood.

Harvey Dent’s coin is often a symbol of chance and fate, used to determine the fates of Two-Face’s victims and usually guides his every action. By removing the coin, Joker: Folie a Deux presents a Dent confident in his own decisions. This is arguably more fitting for a district attorney in the middle of a high-profile murder trial, where decisiveness can only be a benefit.

4 Harvey Dent Prosecutes Joker

In The Comics Two-Face Was A Contemporary Of Joker

In a bold narrative twist, Joker: Folie à Deux positions Harvey Dent as the prosecutor in Arthur Fleck’s court case. Traditionally, Dent’s early career is marked by his battle against organized crime in Gotham, as opposed to the era of supervillains such as the Joker. However, in Joker: Folie a Deux, his prosecution of the Joker establishes a direct confrontation with the forces of chaos that Arthur represents.

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This change not only enriches Dent’s character arc but also creates a deeper connection between his transformation into Two-Face and his experiences in the courtroom. The trial becomes a crucible where Dent’s ideals are tested against the Joker’s anarchic influence, suggesting that the trial itself could be a catalyst for Dent’s eventual downfall. This narrative shift emphasizes the interconnectedness of their fates, showcasing how the Joker’s presence in Gotham directly impacts the lives of those who strive for order.

3 Harvey Dent Opposes The Joker Movement

In The Comics Two-Face Is A Contemporary Of Joker

In Joker: Folie à Deux, Harvey Dent takes a definitive stance against the Joker and his followers, marking a divergence from his traditional portrayal in comic book narratives. Rather than being swept up in the chaos or becoming an antihero figure, Dent actively speaks out against the Joker movement, positioning himself as a voice of reason amid the tumult. This opposition reflects his commitment to justice and the rule of law, showcasing a character who is determined to combat the anarchy that Arthur Fleck represents.

This portrayal reinforces the notion of Dent as a tragic figure, as his resistance to the Joker’s ideology ultimately contributes to his downfall. While traditional narratives often depict characters as morally ambiguous or shifting allegiances, Dent’s clear opposition in the film serves to highlight the tragic irony of his situation. Though he stands firmly against lawlessness, it fosters the very chaos that will lead to his transformation into Two-Face.

2 Harry Lawtey Made His Own Backstory For Joker 2’s Two-Face

Dent’s Backstory Is Well Established In The Comics

Harry Lawtey’s portrayal of Harvey Dent in Joker: Folie à Deux is certainly marked by a deliberate departure from established comic book lore. Fittingly, Lawtey has indicated that he crafted his own backstory for Dent, opting to actively ignore previous cinematic portrayals of the character. This decision allowed him to approach the role with a fresh perspective, giving Dent a unique depth that distinguishes him from prior interpretations.

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By creating an original backstory, Lawtey emphasizes the film’s focus on the psychological complexities of the characters, rather than adhering strictly to comic book conventions. Lawtey’s approach invites viewers to explore the character’s motivations and internal struggles, ultimately presenting a more nuanced portrayal that aligns with the film’s themes of madness and chaos. This fresh interpretation underscores the evolving nature of the Batman mythos, highlighting how each new adaptation can bring unique insights to familiar characters.

1 Harvey Dent’s Joker 2 Injuries Are Notably Different

In The Comics Dent’s Injuries Create A Two-Faced Villain

Harvey Dent’s injuries from the explosion in Joker: Folie a Deux are very different from the traditional Two-Face injuries from the comic books. Rather than displaying the dramatic half-facial disfigurement that characterizes Two-Face, Dent’s injuries are a series of wounds across one side of his face, lacking the stark, iconic asymmetry associated with his comic book counterpart.

The less defined nature of his injuries suggests a more human experience, emphasizing the pain and suffering he endures without fully adopting the monstrous identity of Two-Face. This nuanced depiction enhances the film’s exploration of trauma and chaos, positioning Dent as a relatable character who bears the scars of a broken system. By presenting his injuries in a more subdued manner, the Joker: Folie a Deux reframes the narrative around his character, focusing on the emotional and psychological impacts of violence in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences.

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7/10 4.4/10 Joker: Folie a Deux

Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips’ critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.

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