Aaron Bennett is expanding the horror-inspired world of Jokers Wild with Jokers Wild: Lazarus Risen, the follow-up to his acclaimed fan film starring David Howard Thornton (Terrifier) as the Joker. This time, the spotlight shifts to Harley Quinn, with actress and longtime Harley Quinn cosplayer Lauren Alenia stepping into one of DC’s most recognizable roles.
During a recent conversation with iHorror, Alenia opened up about landing what she calls her dream role, the extensive preparation behind her audition, and why fans should expect a version of Harley unlike any they’ve seen before.
After seven years of portraying Harley Quinn at conventions, Alenia said receiving the call from writer-director Aaron Bennett was a surreal moment.
“It’s such an honor. This version of the character is going to be so different than I think anybody’s ever seen.”
That passion for Harley Quinn extends far beyond the costume. Alenia revealed she spent more than a month preparing her audition, revisiting comics, Batman: The Animated Series, and the Batman: Arkham games while continuing to refine Harley’s distinctive voice and mannerisms.
“There’s the top layer of Harley, and then there are a million other layers underneath. I’m still actively researching her.”
She also shared that Bennett encouraged her to embrace what he described as a “nightmare variant” of Harley Quinn, challenging her to bring a darker, more psychologically grounded interpretation of the character to life.
While careful not to reveal spoilers, Alenia said Jokers Wild: Lazarus Risen will lean heavily into psychological horror, exploring themes such as abuse, codependency, and mental illness while delivering a fresh take on one of DC’s most iconic characters.
Fans of the original Jokers Wild may also have something bigger to look forward to. While the first film was released as a short, Alenia confirmed the creative team hopes to expand Lazarus Risen into a feature-length production, promising a larger-scale experience while maintaining the horror atmosphere established in the original film.
Despite the excitement surrounding the role, Alenia understands the expectations that come with portraying Harley Quinn.
“I’m not going to let the fans down. I’m going to put a lot of effort and preparation into this role.”
Outside of Harley Quinn, Alenia also revealed she’d love the opportunity to one day portray Poison Ivy, another beloved character from the DC universe.
Jokers Wild: Lazarus Risen stars Lauren Alenia, Joel LeBlanc, Kevin Keppy (Barbarian, Smile), and Bill Russell, with Aaron Bennett returning as writer, director, and producer.
The film is currently in development, with its Kickstarter campaign now live to help bring the next chapter of the Jokers Wild universe to life.
Watch our full interview with Lauren Alenia below:
Check out the short film Joker’s Wild (2025) Starring David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown, TERRIFIER)
