themovieblog.com— Well it's official. The new Joker for the next Batman film is Heath Ledger. I had someone mention his name to me last week... but to be honest I didn't believe it. Guess I should have listened.
Jul 20, 2006View in Crawl 4
jude law sounds like such a bad idea on the surface, but after seeing Road to Perdition i totally could buy him as the Joker, he did awesome in that movie.
Trying to match Jack Nicholson is just plain stupid and impossible, They are better of going on a different direction with the character and avoid comparisons altogether. so i do think this is a good call from casting.Lets wait and see how this rendition of the joker pans out.
First off, there was no real difference between Nicholson's role in Batman 89 and his role in the Shining. Up until more recently Nicholson has not really displayed a broad range- the Pledge, About Schmidt, Mad About You. What Alabaster said was true: Heath Ledger looks just like the Joker pretransformation from The Killing Joke- Alan Moore, which I believe David Goyer said they were drawing on for material, along with The Long Halloween- Jeff Loeb. The Killing Joke is possibly the only comic to show the Joker before he became the Joker properly and has become considered main continuity. And for all those of you that have a problem with 'Brokeback Joker', check out Christian Bale in Velvet Goldmine, gettin it on with Ewan McGregor. Now grow up, most actors are open minded enough and willing to challenge themselves enough to play homosexual characters. Or what about Cillian Murphy playing a homosexual transvestite in Breakfast on Pluto? And quit the speculation, Nolan was never going to cast a fan favourite, and unlikely to cast a Joker lookalike. Bettany was never gunning for the role, he was covering for Heath Ledger. This isn't just a rumor. Ledger has never played an antagonist before, and I think its great that Nolan has chosen a guy who is dissatisfied by what he has done in the past and is struggling to be taken seriously. Its better than casting a weak character actor like Crispin Glover, who I think has done nothing of note since Back to the Future. This is just my opinion, feel free to flame away.
I know people are squeeing over Jack N.'s JOKER portrayal.. but that's all hindsight. i don't now how many lovers of JN as Joker remember the wank Tim Burton got when it was announced that MAYBE J.N would be Joker and then that he was DEFINITELY gonna be the Joker. It wasn't pretty. "He'll vbe playing Jake Nicolson, not the Joker". And, as expected, they were right. It was Jack Nicolson in white make-up. The fact remains, however, that were that s**t real life, The Joker probably WOULD act alot like Jack Nicolson. So, it worked. But that didn't stop fanboys from crying about it, tho. That whole movie was wanked. Michael Keaton as Batman, Prince doing music, J.N as Joker. People hated the idea, but people rather enjoyed the execution. In hindsight, people praised it. But, in general, before they saw the movie, it was quite a different story. Likewise, people questioned Christian Bale (altho' anyone seeing American Psycho should not have had any doubts). Undoubtedly, it was because of the 'faggier' roles he had done since American Psycho, which is basically what Heath has going against him. It's a shame... but again, I don't expect alot of maturity in comic fandom circles. If Heath does this, I bet he'll put more heart into pulling off a perfect JOker than most others. And, 5 years from now, I bet people will be praising his performance AFTER THE FACT much like they praised J.N's performance AFTER THE FACT.
well, wiht Nicolson, people were like "oh, he won't play The Joker, he'll just play Jack Nicolson." With Christian Slater, you'll get the same: "oh, he won't play The Joker, he'll just play Jack Nicolson". Only, it'll be some hack-kneed, bad imitation of J.Nicolson.
Heath playing the Joker (shudder shudder). I've only seen the guy in two movies, A Nights Tale (which was ok) and Broke Back Mountain (which wasn't as good as the story... in fact that was one of the worst movies I've ever seen and I question the sanity of the person who thought that that short would translate well to film). In either movie he wasn't a stand-out actor... personally I wish they had given the role to Mark Hammel, I've grown up with Batman and I can't imagine the Joker without that laugh... Oooh, and the age thing. The Joker's 'sposed to be OLDER than batman! Comics continuity dictates it. Oh god, and i hope they don't try and do another origins of the joker >__>
i have to say, i am leary about heath ledger. but i _want_ to trust nolan... i will give it a fair shake. i am with all the others who wanted to see crispin glover in the role. i also think that tim roth could have done a fantastic job.
1. I hope this is true or close to accurate to what the Joker will look like in Nolan's next Batman. <a class="user" href="http://www.evilology.net/uploaded/joker2ge1nx.jpg">http://www.evilology.net/uploaded/joker2ge1nx.jpg</a>2. The only thing that worries me is that Nolan will pull the cardinal sin of comic movies....he'll kill off the villain. Nothing pisses me off more with this genre. 3. I thought Willem Dafoe would be a great Joker before they cast him in Spider-man.
echo1Jul 20, 2006
jude law sounds like such a bad idea on the surface, but after seeing Road to Perdition i totally could buy him as the Joker, he did awesome in that movie.
notdarkyetJul 21, 2006
yeah lords of dogtown was a very underrated movie and ledgers character was awesome
jedi0utkastJul 21, 2006
Trying to match Jack Nicholson is just plain stupid and impossible, They are better of going on a different direction with the character and avoid comparisons altogether. so i do think this is a good call from casting.Lets wait and see how this rendition of the joker pans out.
keithoJul 21, 2006
why are they using The Joker again? there are other villians available for use.
saustJul 21, 2006
Wow, didn't see that one coming! Heath Ledger??! Wow.. I have faith in the movie though, can't wait.
tenthousandliesJul 21, 2006
It should have been Crispin Glover!
stephenphillipsJul 24, 2006
I'm intrigued. I have faith in Nolan, and I know that I never liked Nicholson's Joker anyway, so we'll see.
lordofthejungleJul 27, 2006
First off, there was no real difference between Nicholson's role in Batman 89 and his role in the Shining. Up until more recently Nicholson has not really displayed a broad range- the Pledge, About Schmidt, Mad About You. What Alabaster said was true: Heath Ledger looks just like the Joker pretransformation from The Killing Joke- Alan Moore, which I believe David Goyer said they were drawing on for material, along with The Long Halloween- Jeff Loeb. The Killing Joke is possibly the only comic to show the Joker before he became the Joker properly and has become considered main continuity. And for all those of you that have a problem with 'Brokeback Joker', check out Christian Bale in Velvet Goldmine, gettin it on with Ewan McGregor. Now grow up, most actors are open minded enough and willing to challenge themselves enough to play homosexual characters. Or what about Cillian Murphy playing a homosexual transvestite in Breakfast on Pluto? And quit the speculation, Nolan was never going to cast a fan favourite, and unlikely to cast a Joker lookalike. Bettany was never gunning for the role, he was covering for Heath Ledger. This isn't just a rumor. Ledger has never played an antagonist before, and I think its great that Nolan has chosen a guy who is dissatisfied by what he has done in the past and is struggling to be taken seriously. Its better than casting a weak character actor like Crispin Glover, who I think has done nothing of note since Back to the Future. This is just my opinion, feel free to flame away.
physixAug 6, 2006
I know people are squeeing over Jack N.'s JOKER portrayal.. but that's all hindsight. i don't now how many lovers of JN as Joker remember the wank Tim Burton got when it was announced that MAYBE J.N would be Joker and then that he was DEFINITELY gonna be the Joker. It wasn't pretty. "He'll vbe playing Jake Nicolson, not the Joker". And, as expected, they were right. It was Jack Nicolson in white make-up. The fact remains, however, that were that s**t real life, The Joker probably WOULD act alot like Jack Nicolson. So, it worked. But that didn't stop fanboys from crying about it, tho. That whole movie was wanked. Michael Keaton as Batman, Prince doing music, J.N as Joker. People hated the idea, but people rather enjoyed the execution. In hindsight, people praised it. But, in general, before they saw the movie, it was quite a different story. Likewise, people questioned Christian Bale (altho' anyone seeing American Psycho should not have had any doubts). Undoubtedly, it was because of the 'faggier' roles he had done since American Psycho, which is basically what Heath has going against him. It's a shame... but again, I don't expect alot of maturity in comic fandom circles. If Heath does this, I bet he'll put more heart into pulling off a perfect JOker than most others. And, 5 years from now, I bet people will be praising his performance AFTER THE FACT much like they praised J.N's performance AFTER THE FACT.
physixAug 6, 2006
well, wiht Nicolson, people were like "oh, he won't play The Joker, he'll just play Jack Nicolson." With Christian Slater, you'll get the same: "oh, he won't play The Joker, he'll just play Jack Nicolson". Only, it'll be some hack-kneed, bad imitation of J.Nicolson.
lostandloneOct 11, 2006
Heath playing the Joker (shudder shudder). I've only seen the guy in two movies, A Nights Tale (which was ok) and Broke Back Mountain (which wasn't as good as the story... in fact that was one of the worst movies I've ever seen and I question the sanity of the person who thought that that short would translate well to film). In either movie he wasn't a stand-out actor... personally I wish they had given the role to Mark Hammel, I've grown up with Batman and I can't imagine the Joker without that laugh... Oooh, and the age thing. The Joker's 'sposed to be OLDER than batman! Comics continuity dictates it. Oh god, and i hope they don't try and do another origins of the joker >__>
thestallionmangNov 2, 2006
i have to say, i am leary about heath ledger. but i _want_ to trust nolan... i will give it a fair shake. i am with all the others who wanted to see crispin glover in the role. i also think that tim roth could have done a fantastic job.
xero1186Jan 18, 2007
1. I hope this is true or close to accurate to what the Joker will look like in Nolan's next Batman. <a class="user" href="http://www.evilology.net/uploaded/joker2ge1nx.jpg">http://www.evilology.net/uploaded/joker2ge1nx.jpg</a>2. The only thing that worries me is that Nolan will pull the cardinal sin of comic movies....he'll kill off the villain. Nothing pisses me off more with this genre. 3. I thought Willem Dafoe would be a great Joker before they cast him in Spider-man.
ahproJan 23, 2008
RIP Heath Ledger.
netsliderxJul 20, 2008
Man.. you were way off on that one.
johnnyguitarAug 6, 2008
Ha! I know, right?