Joker: Folie à Deux is nearly out, and the actor playing Harvey Dent in the DC Universe film has opened up about taking on the iconic role in a recent interview. Harry Lawtey, best known for his role as Robert Spearing in the series Industry, is playing one of DC's most iconic roles in Joker 2. Following in the footsteps of Billy Dee Williams, Tommy Lee Jones, and Aaron Eckhart, Lawtey will play Harvey Dent. It is unclear if the character's transformation into the villainous Two-Face will occur in the film.
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine for their November issue, Lawtey opened up about taking on the role. Acknowledging the intimidating stature of stars like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Lawtey didn't expect to get the role when he sent in his self-tape, and used this to his advantage: "I had absolutely zero expectation that this part could possibly go my way, so it just felt like a free hit in that sense." Fortunately, things did go his way, and director Todd Phillips cast Lawtey as Harvey Dent.
While Lawtey acknowledges the importance of performances like Aaron Eckhart's in The Dark Knight, he also seems to have a larger appreciation for the source material. He does not intend to draw from Eckhart's iteration too much. "I think one of the wonderful things about these comic-book characters is they're almost, in the modern cultural landscape, quite Shakespearean," Lawtey said, outlining his understanding of the character's lore. Lawtey seems to believe that each actor can bring something new to the role, just as has been done through the years in plays like Hamlet.
Joker 2 Promises To Bring Something New To The Harvey Dent Character
Lawtey's comments seem to be in line with the first Joker film’s understanding of its characters and their lore. While there are previous iterations from which to mine details, in both the comics and the previous films, there are also unique takes that the films themselves can invent. The Joker 2 reviews have some positive details, and much of what is worth celebrating in these films is their originality and unique spins on well-worn material. Lawtey's Harvey Dent comments suggest a version of the character faithful in spirit, if not in total execution.
Lawtey's comments suggest that his version of Dent will be something that audiences have not yet seen, which is compelling. With the makeup of the original Joker film, it seems unlikely that Folie à Deux will provide a typical take on Harvey Dent, and it is certainly unlikely that the theatrical version of the transformed villain Two-Face will appear. Still, Lawtey's respect for the character's history suggests that Harvey Dent in the film will feel whole, grounded, and unique.
Our Take On Harry Lawtey's New Harvey Dent
Lawtey's Understanding Of His Character Is Promising
I can't help but be excited by the prospect of new twists on familiar villains from the Batman canon. With James Gunn's universe set to introduce a new Batman world in the DCU, and Matt Reeves' The Batman, and its celebrated spinoff The Penguin, giving crime-saga twists on the lore, it is exciting to hear about other reinventions of Batman characters in Joker 2. Taking the elements of familiarity and exploring them in new ways is a compelling way to make Joker: Folie à Deux stand out now and hopefully endure in the pop culture landscape.
