HEATH LEDGER IS BATMAN'S JOKER FOR THE DARK KNIGHT

[MattBrady]

According to multiple sources reporting to Newsarama, including Warner Bros. itself, the next villain to face Batman in the revived film franchise will be the Joker, and he’ll be played by Heath Ledger, proving many early reports of the actor picking up the role true. Assumedly, the sequel will re-tell the origin of the Joker, although which origin will surely be a topic of speculation.

Batman Begin director Christopher Nolan will return to direct the sequel which will simply be called The Dark Knight. According to earlier reports, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman signed multiple picture contracts and will be returning for The Dark Knight as well as a possible third Bat-movie. Morgan Freeman and Katie Holmes are expected to return to their roles as well, although tabloid scuttlebutt has had Holmes retiring from film work, or not returning to Batman at least.

Screenwriter David Goyer is expected to return as well, and has reportedly already written some 80 pages towards the sequel.

A press release officially announcing Ledger and the title is expected tomorrow morning.

Update 08/01/06: According to Variety, production on The Dark Knight will begin next year, for presumably a summer 2008 release, putting it in competition with Iron Man, and the next James Bond movie (both of which have already claimed teh first weekend fo May as their release dates).

Additionally, the film will be written by Nolan's brother, Jonah, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan will produce.

[tiso_spencer]

Argh.... Katie Holmes again? Blah. And Ledger, sigh..... Brokeback Joker. I just hate the reasoning why he was picked.

[KingMixer]

Ledger as Joker?

KHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!

[Evan Waters]

Hmm.

I've seen Ledger in two movies, THE PATRIOT and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Neither convinced me that he's ideal for the Joker, but he is a good actor in general, so he might pull it off.

[USAgent]

I don't know. Having Katie come back and work with Harvey Dent may be interesting. As for Ledger...why not? He's a good enough of an actor. I know everyone says Jack Nicholson was the perfect Joker, but he didn't look anything like the part either. I think beforehand I had questions about him too. But I think the makers of Batman Begins have earned the benefit of the doubt.

[BanMan]

If he can get the laugh and maniacal look, he'll be fine.

[KingMixer]

Yeah but Paul Bettany would have been so ideal.

[BillReed]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwww ____.

Well, it could've been Robin Williams. And it's not like I *won't* go see it...

[Snowspinner]

Originally Posted by tiso_spencer

Argh.... Katie Holmes again? Blah. And Ledger, sigh..... Brokeback Joker. I just hate the reasoning why he was picked.

Why was he picked?

[Peter Price]

Originally Posted by USAgent

I don't know. Having Katie come back and work with Harvey Dent may be interesting. As for Ledger...why not? He's a good enough of an actor. I know everyone says Jack Nicholson was the perfect Joker, but he didn't look anything like the part either. I think beforehand I had questions about him too. But I think the makers of Batman Begins have earned the benefit of the doubt.

I wish more people had you're attitude. The movie hasn't even been made yet & "fans" are already trashing it.I ask why more people can't give something (whether it be movie,book, other people, etc) the benefit of a doubt!

[Rojada88]

Although I honestly can't see Ledger playing the Joker, I'll give him a chance. I mean seriously I'll go see it no matter what. I just hope he can pull off the insane, maniacal Joker we all hate to love. Also the laugh...he better be able to do the laugh.

[Autocomber]

Originally Posted by tiso_spencer

Argh.... Katie Holmes again? Blah. And Ledger, sigh..... Brokeback Joker. I just hate the reasoning why he was picked.

Hahaha! They shoulda had Christopher Walken be the joker, cuz he's a creepy dude. But hopefully Heath can pull it off.

[JT Skywalker]

Ledger is an excellent actor, one of the best up and coming guys right now, so this could be very good. And if the rumors are true and the Penguin is going to be in the film, and they can also get their rumored choice of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, that would be awesome. A lot of Oscar-level talent.

Ryan Phillipe is a bit of a stretch for Harvey Dent, but could be good. If I could chose anyone, it would be Liev Schreiber, but I'm sure they're better at casting than I am.

And I love the title of The Dark Knight.

~JTS

[krammocon]

Again and again, the know-it-alls comments before seeing anything. Old habits, die hard... *sigh*

I think Heath could pull it off. Can't wait to find it out when this push through.

[Supes]

I just can't picture Ledger as the Joker, he just doesn't seem suited for the role. I have faith in Nolan since he did such a good job with Begins, so I really hope he proves me wrong because he has supposedly had his eye on Ledger for awhile now.

I really really hope Katie Holmes doesn't come back! She was the only weak link in Begins. I hope they bring in a new love interest, my choice would be Selina Kyle. Don't introduce Catwoman yet, just bring in Selina as the love interest so Catwoman could be brought in for the third movie. Supposedly they're going to do the same with Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face. So that would have the villains setup for the third movie.

I like the title, but here's hoping the final full title is Batman: The Dark Knight

[EMeadow]

Katie Holmes coming back? Scientology gave permission for her to act again?

Yeah probably won't happen. The movie will do better than MI-2 and 3 combined. Tom won't let her do better than him.

[Ectocooler]

Hmm, I always liked the idea of Joker being old, like 50's. Ledger's too young for that idea though. Still he could do a great job so I'll wait until I see the movie, but I hope they didn't just pick him because he is "young and on the way to being the next big thing" rather than pick the right person for the role.

[Catch22]

As long as Schumacher's not directing, I'm all in for the movie! I don't know if Ledger can pull it off, but I have to trust that Nolan can get the right attitude out of him. I love the title, too.

[The Funketeer]

For some reason I don't really care so much about the casting without knowing how the Joker is going to be portrayed. Heath Ledger is a good actor and all but I'm more curious to know what direction they're going to go with for the character than who actually plays him.

[foxhound09]

AWESOME title. I've seriously been waiting forever for someone to title a Batman movie "The Dark Knight."

Would be cool if the next Superman movie was titled "The Man of Steel."

[tiso_spencer]

But he has never done this type of role before. At least I could have accepted Williams because he is a comic book fan and would have actually been good. I mean have you seen him when isn't trying to be funny and instead creepy and evil in certain movies? Ledger, I am just always going to have in the back of my head for his Joker "Why can't I quit you?" Katie Holmes was the weakest link in Batman Begins. For her to be back is just going to be lame, even though it would be odd for her character not to be in it. I would just hate for Katie to come back.

[cyclopsfan]

Eh... it's an all-star lineup. I just don't think they will all be the right stars.

[syxxpakk]

While Ledger wouldn't have been my first choice, he was a terrific actor under a terrific director's (Ang Lee) control. I think Nolan will be able to get the same results.

Hoffman as The Penguin is dream casting at it's finest. I'd love to see it.

[Supreme Convoy]

I like Heath Ledger. I could see it working.

[syxxpakk]

Originally Posted by tiso_spencer

But he has never done this type of role before.

Kind of like Hugh Jackman, Christopher Reeves, Christian Bale, Brandon Routh, Tobey Maguire, and Mickey Rourke.