Lady Gaga is spotted for the first time as Harley Quinn as she films Joker sequel in New York City

Lady Gaga vanished into her character when she was spotted for the first time as she filmed the upcoming Joker sequel in New York this week.

Rumors have been flying for weeks that the 36-year-old pop act is playing Harley Quinn, the Joker’s wild-spirited lover from the Batman comics.

Her appearance on the set certainly did little to tamp down the conjecture, from her clownish makeup to her playing card-inspired costume.

Moreover she could be glimpsed at one point during the scene carrying a large cardboard sign that read: ‘JOKER MARRY ME.’

In a dramatic twist, Saturday’s shoot happened to take place outside the Manhattan courthouse playing host to the Trump grand jury, WNBC reports.

Workaday: Lady Gaga vanished into her character when she was spotted filming the upcoming Joker sequel in New York this week

Word on the street: Rumors have been flying for weeks that the 36-year-old pop act is playing Harley Quinn, the Joker's wild-spirited lover from the Batman comics

Making it happen: Her appearance on the set certainly did little to tamp down the conjecture, from her clownish makeup to her playing card-inspired costume

Word on the street: Rumors have been flying for weeks that the 36-year-old pop act is playing Harley Quinn, the Joker’s wild-spirited lover from the Batman comics. Her appearance on the set certainly did little to tamp down the conjecture, from her clownish makeup to her playing card-inspired costume

Moreover: She could be glimpsed at one point during the scene carrying a large cardboard sign that read: 'JOKER MARRY ME'

Moreover: She could be glimpsed at one point during the scene carrying a large cardboard sign that read: ‘JOKER MARRY ME’

The grand jury has attracted the attention of the world as it looks into allegations the former US President had hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has accused him of having sex with her while married to his third wife Melania.

Outside the courthouse another fraught scene was playing out, as Gaga’s character was seen being restrained by police apparently during a protest.

Demonstrators lined the stairway leading up to the courthouse, brandishing placards with slogans like: ‘NO Justice NOT Guilty NOT Joking,’ and ‘FREE JOKER.’

The previous movie in the franchise followed the transformation of a mentally disturbed, failed comedian into the serial killing supervillain Batman fans have come to know.

At the end of the picture, the Joker is arrested and thrown in Arkham Asylum after going on late-night television, confessing to multiple murders and then shooting the host dead on the air.

His arrest prompts riots to break out all over Gotham City, and it would appear from the scene being shot this Saturday that the public support for him continues into the sequel.

The protestors in Saturday’s scene had a distinct air of roleplay about them, with some of them wearing joker makeup, one hauling around a massive wooden cross and another dressed as the Grim Reaper with a scythe. 

In a hint at the incendiary nature of the protest scene, some of the policemen’s costumes on Saturday included riot gear. 

By the way: In a dramatic twist, Saturday's shoot happened to take place outside the Manhattan courthouse playing host to the Trump grand jury, WNBC reports

By the way: In a dramatic twist, Saturday’s shoot happened to take place outside the Manhattan courthouse playing host to the Trump grand jury, WNBC reports

Take her away: Outside the courthouse another fraught scene was playing out, as Gaga's character was seen being restrained by police apparently during a protest

Take her away: Outside the courthouse another fraught scene was playing out, as Gaga’s character was seen being restrained by police apparently during a protest

Backdrop: The grand jury has attracted the attention of the world as it looks into allegations the former US President had hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels

Bleak: Gaga in character appeared downcast whilst flanked by cops

Backdrop: The grand jury has attracted the attention of the world as it looks into allegations the former US President had hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels

On the scene: Demonstrators lined the stairway leading up to the courthouse, brandishing placards with slogans like: 'NO Justice NOT Guilty NOT Joking,' and 'FREE JOKER'

On the scene: Demonstrators lined the stairway leading up to the courthouse, brandishing placards with slogans like: ‘NO Justice NOT Guilty NOT Joking,’ and ‘FREE JOKER’

Meanwhile: Gaga, between takes, wrapped a long black anorak around her costume in order to ward off the northeastern cold of her native New York City

Meanwhile: Gaga, between takes, wrapped a long black anorak around her costume in order to ward off the northeastern cold of her native New York City

Taking to the barricades: The protestors in Saturday's scene had a distinct air of roleplay about them, with some of them wearing joker makeup, one hauling around a massive wooden cross and another dressed as the Grim Reaper with a scythe

Taking to the barricades: The protestors in Saturday’s scene had a distinct air of roleplay about them, with some of them wearing joker makeup, one hauling around a massive wooden cross and another dressed as the Grim Reaper with a scythe

Prepared: In a hint at the incendiary nature of the protest scene, some of the policemen's costumes on Saturday included riot gear

Prepared: In a hint at the incendiary nature of the protest scene, some of the policemen’s costumes on Saturday included riot gear

Meanwhile Gaga, between takes, wrapped a long black anorak around her costume in order to ward off the northeastern cold of her native New York City. 

It was earlier reported that the scene being shot outside the courthouse would involve explosives as well as some 700 extras.

Signs were posted ahead of time blocking off parking on some streets, and on the day before the shoot the cranes and tents for the production arrived.

Although the film is supposedly called Joker: Folie à Deux, the signs said the movie being shot in the area was entitled Juliet.

Upon its release in 2019, the first Joker movie became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time and netted a best actor Oscar for its leading man Joaquin Phoenix.

Todd Phillips, the director of the first instalment, has returned to the job for the Joker sequel, which he also co-wrote with Scott Silver.

On Valentine’s Day Todd shared an Instagram picture of Gaga and Joaquin in character gazing romantically into each other’s eyes.

Reports have been circulating that the new Joker movie is going to be a musical, despite the fact that its predecessor was not.

Pulling out the stops: It was earlier reported that the scene being shot outside the courthouse would involve explosives as well as some 700 extras

Pulling out the stops: It was earlier reported that the scene being shot outside the courthouse would involve explosives as well as some 700 extras

Preparation: Signs were posted ahead of time blocking off parking on some streets, and on the day before the shoot the cranes and tents for the production arrived

Details: Although the film is supposedly called Joker: Folie à Deux, the signs said the movie being shot in the area was entitled Juliet

Preparation: Signs were posted ahead of time blocking off parking on some streets, and on the day before the shoot the cranes and tents for the production arrived

Follow-up: Upon its release in 2019, the first Joker movie became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time and netted a best actor Oscar for its leading man Joaquin Phoenix

Follow-up: Upon its release in 2019, the first Joker movie became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time and netted a best actor Oscar for its leading man Joaquin Phoenix

Back in action: Todd Phillips, the director of the first installment, has returned to the job for the Joker sequel, which he also co-wrote with Scott Silver

Publicity: On Valentine's Day Todd shared an Instagram picture of Gaga and Joaquin in character gazing romantically into each other's eyes

Back in action: Todd Phillips, the director of the first installment, has returned to the job for the Joker sequel, which he also co-wrote with Scott Silver. On Valentine’s Day Todd shared an Instagram picture of Gaga and Joaquin in character gazing romantically into each other’s eyes

Will Gaga sing?: Reports have been circulating that the new Joker movie is going to be a musical, despite the fact that its predecessor was not

Will Gaga sing?: Reports have been circulating that the new Joker movie is going to be a musical, despite the fact that its predecessor was not

Gaga is of course no stranger to movie musicals, having starred in and written songs for Bradley Cooper’s remake of A Star Is Born.

The original version of A Star Is Born starring Janet Gaynor was released in 1937, followed by two remakes with Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand before the Gaga picture. 

Her edition of A Star Is Born garnered Gaga a best original song Oscar for Shallow, a duet she sings in the movie with Bradley’s character. 

Bradley first became an international superstar in Todd Phillips’ movie The Hangover, and he happens also to be a producer on the Joker films.

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