# Bad choice for The Joker **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873 "2006-08-01T13:57:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/21 "2006-08-01T17:52:20Z")
I think Heath will do fine, but I too laud the idea of Paul Bettany playing the Joker. He could so do it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/22 "2006-08-01T17:53:23Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] That’s what it comes down to, really. They could have actually cast Wayne Knight and I’d still have faith. Batman Begins was just that good. [/QUOTE] [Seinfeld]Hello, Joker.[/Seinfeld] ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/23 "2006-08-01T18:34:57Z")
Ledger has a creepy smile… He’ll do just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/24 "2006-08-01T19:33:21Z")
> [@](#): > > [rant]And I was just watching the bonus features disc, where the director and screenplay-writer-guy were both bragging that, before this film, no one had explored Bruce Wayne’s life between his parents’ murders and his first gig as Batman. I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to interpret that to mean “nobody had ever explored that part of his life _on screen_”. Or to put it another way, nobody had ever done a film or TV adaptation of the material in _Batman: Year One_. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/25 "2006-08-01T19:57:07Z")
Edward Norton? Alan Cumming? Hi, Opal? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/26 "2006-08-01T20:04:17Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to interpret that to mean “nobody had ever explored that part of his life _on screen_”. Or to put it another way, nobody had ever done a film or TV adaptation of the material in _Batman: Year One_. [/QUOTE] Unless you’ve seen Batman: Mask of the Phantasm which interpretted a good bulk of Year One and Year Two. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/27 "2006-08-01T20:17:05Z")
The guy who played Joker in [this movie](http://theforce.net/fanfilms/nonsw/grayson/) was pretty cool, and the movie itself is damn nifty. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/28 "2006-08-01T22:28:50Z")
Maybe he actually will play Jack Napier!! :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/29 "2006-08-01T22:40:41Z")
It’s just a rumor, so far, and the title isn’t official either. Heath Ledger is more than a pretty face; I think he could pull it off. Come to think of it, Jake Gyllenhaal, his costar in _Brokeback Mountain_, would be a good Joker. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/30 "2006-08-01T22:54:28Z")
Cesar Romero as the Joker will never be bested. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/31 "2006-08-01T23:47:41Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] Ledger has a creepy smile… He’ll do just fine. [/QUOTE] [Agreed](http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Heath-Ledger-Attacks-Paparazzi-With-Eggs-2.jpg). It’s a bit too wide, just like every good Joker should have. Give the boy a chance! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/32 "2006-08-02T00:40:08Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Fight] [Agreed](http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Heath-Ledger-Attacks-Paparazzi-With-Eggs-2.jpg). It’s a bit too wide, just like every good Joker should have. Give the boy a chance! [/QUOTE] That picture just sold me on him playing the Joker. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/33 "2006-08-02T02:05:14Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] The guy who played Joker in [this movie](http://theforce.net/fanfilms/nonsw/grayson/) was pretty cool, and the movie itself is damn nifty. [/QUOTE] Dayum, I’d pay to see that! Of course he should adopt the Nightwing personna rather than go back to being Robin. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/34 "2006-08-02T08:02:53Z")
Mark Hamil doing the voice for a CGI Joker (a la Gollum) would have been interesting. Or hey…Andy Serkis as the Joker! (Couldn’t be any worse than _Catwoman_) Or if we’re going for other Ledger coastars, there’s always Alan Tudyk. Eh, only time will tell, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/35 "2006-08-02T09:35:17Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] That picture just sold me on him playing the Joker. [/QUOTE] Same here. But I could see Crispin Glover or Edward Norton in the role as well. To tell the truth, _Batman Begins_ was so damn good that they could cast Drew Carey as the Joker in the sequel and I’d still see it. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/36 "2006-08-02T11:26:37Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] It’s just a rumor, so far, and the title isn’t official either. [/QUOTE] Not a rumor. Here’s the official press release. > [@](#): > > BURBANK, CA, 31 July 2006 – As a follow up to last year’s blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures. > Christopher Nolan revamped the Batman franchise in 2005 with the immensely successful Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the title role, which chronicled the early years of the superhero. Nolan first garnered attention from critics and fans in 2000 with the groundbreaking drama Memento, which he wrote and directed. He went on to direct the thriller Insomnia, starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and recently wrapped production on The Prestige, with Hugh Jackman and Bale. > > Bale was most recently seen in the ensemble cast of Terrence Malick’s The New World. His other credits include Little Women, Portrait of a Lady, Metroland, American Psycho, Laurel Canyon and Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun, which was his first starring role. > > Ledger most recently earned Oscar Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award nominations and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in the award-winning drama Brokeback Mountain. His other credits include Casanova, Monster’s Ball, Lords of Dogtown, The Brothers Grimm and The Patriot. > > “Chris’ unique vision is what made Batman Begins such an outstanding film and we could not imagine anyone else at the helm of The Dark Knight,” said Robinov. “We also can’t wait to see two such formidable actors as Christian and Heath face off with each other as Batman and The Joker.” > > “I’m excited to continue the story we started with Batman Begins,” added Nolan. “Our challenge in casting The Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger’s interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale’s Batman is going to be incredible.” > > Production is set to begin on The Dark Knight in early 2007. > > Nolan and Ledger are represented by CAA. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/37 "2006-08-02T12:59:21Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I think Katie Holmes is the real albotross for the franchise. [/QUOTE] Are they bringing her back? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/38 "2006-08-02T13:54:36Z")
Who’d make a good Joker? Let’s see, insane, creepy, white skin. I’m thinking Michael Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/39 "2006-08-02T14:50:14Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Wayne Knight Josh Weinstein Horatio Sanz Charo Rondo Hatton [/QUOTE] Do you have any idea how much money I’d pay to see Charo as the Joker? Do you? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873/40 "2006-08-02T15:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you have any idea how much money I’d pay to see Charo as the Joker? Do you? How about if she played Harley Quinn? What if Wayne Knight did? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-choice-for-the-joker/366873.md?page=3)