Who is going to play The Joker?
 

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Interesting casting choice.

Very interesting. Not sure about it, but while I never would have thought of him, he can pull off the look, I think. Whether he can pull off the character is the question.

Good actor, odd choice.

My first reaction was WHAT:confused:; but after mulling over it for a few seconds I could see Heath Ledger is this role (judging by the picture in the article, he has the right smile...). I guess it boils down to how good a character actor he is.

But can anyone really top Jack Nicholson?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Jokermovie.jpg

No, so should anyone even try.

I'm guessing they're going for a toned-down Joker -- not completely over the top but still a criminally insane genius. Ledger might pull that off well and compliment Christian Bale's Batman nicely (without upstaging him, which Nicholson arguably did to Michael Keaton).

Someone noted that parts of "10 Things I Hate About You" showed him doing the 'over-the-top' thing with some success - I'm not sure I buy it, but it's an interesting thought.

Sure! Cesar Romero, the original TV Joker. May he rest in peace.

I did love him. Not sure he was "better," but that laugh was perfect.

*hijack*

Keaton played Batman perfectly.

Nicholson played The Joker, a villian that is supposed to upstage everyone, perfectly.

They went wrong when they didn't bring Keaton back.

His delivery and restraint in the role was indicative of what Batman is all about.

He is a Dark Knight, not that buffoon from the television series.

Yes and Christian Bale is probably as dark as Keaton was, if not darker. Batman's always been interesting because he's kind of a lose cannon in a way.

The man is obsessed with bats and is on a crimestopping mission because of the death of his parents. He's not always 100% there, and unlike Superman, you never know if he'll cross a line somewhere.

Batman's my favorite :D and Batman Begins is the BEST Batman to date!

My brother and I were having this argument. He likes the direction that Batman Begins took...more dark, brooding, serious, dramatic movie rather than the previous, more cartoonish, and over-the-top Batman movies (the worst of which is probably Batman & Robin). I on the other hand feel like they should go in the complete other direction. Go full on kitsch/tongue-in-cheek and remake the tv series.

BAM!

KAPOW!

THWACK!

The TV series was fun because of the camp (especially the climbing up the wall scenes) but I like the movies darker.

There's a reason why Batman Forever and Batman & Robin did so poorly. I'm not sure if movie directors can't do camp or what, but it was bad! "I'm going to put you on ICE"

Regardless, the comics have always been dark since he started as "The Batman" He talked so little that that was almost Robin's purpose. Robin did all the typical superhero quips while Batman just brought them down.

/Nerd

I thought the same thing. He sort of looks like a young JN in that pic.

*hijack*

Yeah.... I'm not really feeling the Heath thing - like him - good actor - but I don't see him playing the sinister role that the Joker plays to Batman. But then again I really didn't dig Batman Begins as much as i LOVED Batman when Michael Keaton played him...... so it could be pulled off - but I won't be running to the theatre to see it.....

"I'm a JOKER, I'm a smoker, I'm a mid-night to-ker..."

I read that Robin Williams was the leading candidate for the role.

i just think robin william's is getting a little old

Plus when you watch him, you're very aware it's ROBIN WILLIAMS playing a role, you wouldn't see the Joker, you're see Robin Williams playing the part of the Joker...

Although I really like Robin Williams, I have a sneaking feeling he's going to do a Jim Carrey.

If they base it on the comic books then he'll be alot darker, which I hear is what they intend on doing.

They're definately basing this series on the Dark Knight. I just hope they don't bring back Robin. Maybe as Nighthawk, but not as Robin.

A good friend and I argue about this from time to time.

I thought Keaton played Bruce Wayne perfectly, but I never believed him as Batman. That is to say, while he had the character down, I never believed that he was capable of the physical abilities that Batman possesses. For my money, Christian Bale was the first actor in the franchise who was believable as Bruce Wayne and Batman.

As with many things, including many comic book characters, Batman has changed over the years to reflect the times. The TV Batman (how I loved that show when I was a kid) reflected, and to some degree ridiculed the optimism and conformity of the 50s and early 60s, which was giving way to the pessimism and anti-establishment zeitgeist of the last 60s and early 70s. The movies, like the Dark Knight incarnation of Batman on which they draw, reflect their times as well.

Still, I shudder at the thought of Robin Williams as the Joker. And I don't see a Nightwing appearance without aging Batman significantly.

Ah MysticCat, what are we going to do when we agree on things like this?

:)

As long as they bring back my honey Alicia Silverstone for Batgirl...

ditto co-sign, etc.

I'm in agreement, is the point of this post.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 8:55 AM CENTRAL TIME: Well, it begins. From this point on, expect the news and rumors to really pick up. Here’s our first report from one of our sources who has been tremendous for BOF in the past. Here’s what he had to tell us:

As rumored and expected, The Joker is going to be nothing like Nicholson’s version from B89. “What would be the point in trying to recreate something that was done so well then?”

Expect to see a back story for The Joker and we shouldn’t expect to see him until the middle of the film. “Like Batman in BEGINS.”

The Joker will not be the only villain in the film. “I know you’ve heard this before but trust me -- Nolan and his brother have a couple of surprises up their sleeves!”

“Heath Ledger is perfect for the role as he has never played this kind of part before which is what Nolan was after. Think about it -- if you see Sam Rockwell or Robin Williams or even Hugo Weaving, you’d know exactly how they would play the role before even seeing the film and that’s not very intriguing for fans is it? I have a feeling Paul Bettany was out of the mix after his performance in The Da Vinci Code.”

“From what I’ve heard about the direction of the film expect The Joker to be very creepy and very extreme.”

“Whatever you’ve heard about titles for the film -- pay no attention as the title will most likely not be known until they’ve finished shooting.”

He also told us that THE PRESTIGE is going to blow everyone away. “Think the vision of BATMAN BEGINS mixed with the suspense of MEMENTO,” our source said...

http://batman-on-film.com/batmovienews.html