Heath Ledger as The Joker?

[ICRockets]

It's being reported by Latino Review, the same guys who first broke the news of Brandon Routh playing Superman, that the role of The Joker in the Batman Begins sequel has officially been offered to Heath Ledger.

Not my first choice for the role (I personally liked Peter Sarsgaard for the part, even though nobody agreed, for reasons never explained), but there's no question he's a fantastic actor. Couple that with Nolan's eye for talent- really, his only casting mistake of note in his films was Katie Holmes, and at least I enjoy looking at her- and I think this could prove to be an ingenious casting.

And just so you all know, I've already coined the phrase 'Jokeback Mountain'.

Here's one of many links to the story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3743256a1860,00.html

[SabresFan220]

Bah, I'm a huge Batman fan and I'd rather see the forbidden Batman movie series crossover with Micheal Keaton as the Joker before Heath Ledger. You need an actor who fits the physique and mentality of a classic villian like the Joker, Heath Ledger doesn't fit that bill. He doesn't have what I'd call the Joker voice either, he's too serious a character to fit as the Joker, you need a sort of sillier guy to be Joker, and why does Micheal Keaton fit that role, I have no idea, but he kind of does. Heath Ledger would be well down the list of my preferred Jokers.

[jaymitch84]

John, I love that when you are determining who you think should play particular roles you come up with people like Peter Sarsgaard. That's why no one ever agrees with you, because you try to act like a goddamn expert by naming names people don't recognize.

I've been around you enough to know that you are not an expert at anything, especially when you try to hard to be one.

[ICRockets]

John, I love that when you are determining who you think should play particular roles you come up with people like Peter Sarsgaard. That's why no one ever agrees with you, because you try to act like a goddamn expert by naming names people don't recognize.

I've been around you enough to know that you are not an expert at anything, especially when you try to hard to be one.

Oh please. One of the popular choices was Lachy Hulme. I dare you to tell me you've ever heard of him.

With Peter Sarsgaard, I saw Flightplan and realized his smile, facial structure, voice, and acting style would fit Joker perfectly.

[two4trippn]

Ledger was great in 3 flicks, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, and A Knight's Tale (as cheesy as it was)

[ICRockets]

Ledger was great in 3 flicks, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, and A Knight's Tale (as cheesy as it was)

You forgot Brokeback Mountain. I thought Jake Gyenghsjqafhall was better, but they were both excellent in that movie.

[dogginbox]

michael keaton; i suggested to some friends a while ago. i think he would be right for the role.

[jaymitch84]

ah hell, why not jack nicholson?

[two4trippn]

You forgot Brokeback Mountain. I thought Jake Gyenghsjqafhall was better, but they were both excellent in that movie.
Didn't see it.

[smashingt2312]

heath ledger? Not sure, but i also heard a rumor that mark hamill, yes luke skywalker was also being considered for the role as the joker in a future batman movie.

[Sparx]

Arnold..

[BeastMode Deep]

WB confirmed this the other day and announced that the film will be titled "The Dark Knight." No Batman in the title at all. I think its awesome anyone else?

[Gibby]

What about the guy who did the voice of Joker on Batman the Animated Series. Note this is the good series and not the adventures of Batboy beyondo, or the anime abortion the Batman. No I'm talking early nineties Batman that was a good joker.

[BeastMode Deep]

What about the guy who did the voice of Joker on Batman the Animated Series. Note this is the good series and not the adventures of Batboy beyondo, or the anime abortion the Batman. No I'm talking early nineties Batman that was a good joker.
That was Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself, and anyways its too late They start filming in January and Ledger is already contracted for the part.

[Gibby]

That was Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself, and anyways its too late They start filming in January and Ledger is already contracted for the part.

really, wow I learn something new every day. Too bad about Ledger, I'd even like to see Nicholson back in the face paint. Give him some good makeup and you have a pretty good joker.

[LVBillsfan]

One more movie Heath was good in was Lords of Dogtown. Interesting choice, but I'll withhold judgement until I see it. The Dark Knight is a great title choice.

[Gibby]

One more movie Heath was good in was Lords of Dogtown. Interesting choice, but I'll withhold judgement until I see it. The Dark Knight is a great title choice.

indeed it is

[ICRockets]

One more movie Heath was good in was Lords of Dogtown. Interesting choice, but I'll withhold judgement until I see it. The Dark Knight is a great title choice.

I'd prefer something with Batman in the title, like Batman: Rise of the Dark Knight, but it's Batman and it's Christopher Nolan.

I'd pay to see it even if they called it Batman's Balls, as long as I felt reasonably confident we would not actually see Batman's balls.

[Gibby]

I'd prefer something with Batman in the title, like Batman: Rise of the Dark Knight, but it's Batman and it's Christopher Nolan.

I'd pay to see it even if they called it Batman's Balls, as long as I felt reasonably confident we would not actually see Batman's balls.

didn't like Batman Forever and Batman and Robin? :D

[gilchristfan]

What about the guy who did the voice of Joker on Batman the Animated Series. Note this is the good series and not the adventures of Batboy beyondo, or the anime abortion the Batman. No I'm talking early nineties Batman that was a good joker.

My 6 year old loves Batman Beyond, probably better than the regular Batman movies.

He had his heart set on a Batman Beyond action figure for Christmas. tough to explain to a kid (who still believes in Santa) that they don't make them any more. Went to every comic book store in town.

Luckily, I found a few on Ebay, including a talking one.

But to the subject. They making another Joker?? Why? Who can top the Nicholson Joker? It was probably the only reason for keeping the series going, hoping that someone could be as good a villian as him. Nobody's come close.

[LVBillsfan]

But to the subject. They making another Joker?? Why? Who can top the Nicholson Joker? It was probably the only reason for keeping the series going, hoping that someone could be as good a villian as him. Nobody's come close.
from what I understand this Joker is not going to be in all the makeup and such like in the comics. he is supposed to be a darker version of the character, it will be interesting to see the portrayl. If the next movie is half as good as the first, it will be excellent.

[dogginbox]

id like to see the dark version of the joker from the book "the killing joke" it was one of my all time favorite comics, in it the joker cripples barbara gordon by shooting her in the stomach and the bullet hits her spine.

i believe this was also a spin off of the series "a death in the family" in which the joker kills the 2nd robin by blowing him up.....if i remember correctly.

[SabresFan220]

Well now with Heath Ledger confirmed to potencially destroy the 2nd Batman series, I pray to God Nolan knows what he's doing casting him. As Batman's most famous villian Ledger could destroy this Batman series if he doesn't perform up to snuff. Us Batman freaks have a very high bar for the Clown Prince of Crime, Ledger better drop his accent for this role, the Joker is American and doesn't have a foreign accent. If he doesn't drop it, it will just annoy me. He better buff up on his comics and go see Jack Nicholson about this, Jack set the bar very high as a spectacular Joker.

That reminds me of the cancelled followup to Batman and Robin that I read about on Wikipedia. Supposedly they were going to bring Jack Nicholson back as the Joker, returning in a Scarecrow fear gas hallucination. The studio pulled the plug on it after Joel Schmuck-maker finished dragging the Batman series through the mud, necessitating the Batman Begins revival several years later. This movie was pre emptively titled Batman Triumphant, and would've been released in 1999. It is rumored to have featured a very dark script in which both Robin and Batgirl may have been killed off. I like most Batmaniacs would've loved to see Chris O'Donnell and Alicia Silverstone removed from the annuls of Batlore forever, they were just not fitting for the roles. End of story, after Tim Burton relinquished control, Batman spiraled downward into Schmuck-maker's overly comicbooky world of Mr. Arnold Freeze, George Clooney, and completely non realistic Bat gear. Batman Begins arrived with it's own flaws, but as a breath of fresh air to most Batman fans.

But back to the Joker, as a huge fan of the Animated series, Mark Hamill's Joker voice has since the days of Jack Nicholson defined who the Joker is for me. Even in Mask of the Phantasm, that voice can be terrifying. If Mark could loan his talents as a voice over to a live action Batman and somehow make it seamless, that would be the perfect Joker. Unfortunately, at his age Mark Hamill would not physically resemble the Joker to me, but Heath Ledger is barely any better at this point. At least Hamill has experience within the persona of the Joker, Ledger might wanna take voice lessons from him.

[Gibby]

But back to the Joker, as a huge fan of the Animated series, Mark Hamill's Joker voice has since the days of Jack Nicholson defined who the Joker is for me. Even in Mask of the Phantasm, that voice can be terrifying. If Mark could loan his talents as a voice over to a live action Batman and somehow make it seamless, that would be the perfect Joker. Unfortunately, at his age Mark Hamill would not physically resemble the Joker to me, but Heath Ledger is barely any better at this point. At least Hamill has experience within the persona of the Joker, Ledger might wanna take voice lessons from him.

Mask of the Phantasm is in my top three of all batman movies. It was just beautifully animated, great story line, and when Bruce first dawns the cape and cowl, wow.