In Todd Phillips' first Joker movie, Christopher Nolan suggested a crucial change to avoid similarities with Heath Ledger's Joker. Originally, Joaquin Phoenix’s character was supposed to carve a smile on his face, but Nolan felt this mirrored Ledger’s scars from The Dark Knight. The scene was changed to have the Joker cover his mouth with blood instead.

However, in the sequel Joker: Folie a Deux, the original idea returned, with Arthur Fleck's face being carved by an inmate. The film, which blends courtroom drama, fantasy, and musical elements, struggled financially, earning only $37 million on its opening weekend, following a trend of DC movies underperforming recently.