Lady Gaga is set to be the center of attention at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, as the highly anticipated premiere of her new film, "Joker: Folie à Deux," unfolds on the Lido. The pop icon's appearance is expected to outshine even the star-studded presence of George Clooney and Brad Pitt, whose red carpet antics on Sunday for their film "Wolfs" have already made waves at the prestigious festival.

"Joker: Folie à Deux," directed by Todd Phillips, is a dark and subversive follow-up to the 2019 hit "Joker," which featured Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a troubled comedian spiraling into madness. The original film, loosely inspired by DC Comics characters and set in a bleak Gotham City, was a massive success, grossing $1 billion worldwide. However, it also faced criticism for its portrayal of nihilistic violence. Despite this, it won the Golden Lion at Venice and earned Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor.

In the sequel, Lady Gaga joins the cast as Harley Quinn, the Joker's partner in crime and love interest. Her role marks a significant return to the big screen after her performance in 2021's "House of Gucci." In a teaser for the film, her character is heard saying, "He's not sick. He's perfect," hinting at the complex dynamics between Quinn and Fleck.

Director Phillips has revealed that the sequel delves into the theme of identity, exploring the origins of the "music" within Fleck. He expressed the ambition behind the project, stating, "If we were going to do it, we knew we had to swing for the fences; we wanted to create something as crazy and fearless as Joker himself."

Lady Gaga is expected to join Phoenix and other cast members at a press conference on Wednesday, followed by her red carpet appearance and the film's world premiere in the evening. "Joker: Folie à Deux" is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, which concludes on Saturday. This year's event has been a parade of Hollywood glamour, with stars like Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Michael Keaton gracing the red carpet.