Joaquin Phoenix and the perilous ‘Joker’ journey
Todd Phillips only wanted Joaquin Phoenix to play the Joker because he was the only actor who could pull it off. To play the titular character, Phoenix had to shed weight and appear “starving and ill.” A doctor assisted him in this endeavor.
To play the role of Arthur Fleck/Joker, Phoenix lost over 52 pounds to look gaunt and sickly. He just ate fruit and vegetables every day to decrease his calorie intake. Going upstairs made him winded. However, because he had lost so much weight so quickly, Phoenix felt as if he were going insane while playing his character, as his character would do.