# No Joker for third Batman movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982 "2010-06-04T21:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/1 "2010-06-04T21:35:38Z")
> **[No Joker For Nolan's Third Batman!!](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/45362)** > > I am - Hercules!! “No," Jonathan Nolan tells Empire Magazine when asked if the Joker will appear in Nolan's third “Batman" movie. I applaud his resolve. There's no reason to sully what was the finest depiction of Batman's... Good call IMHO. No one could top Ledger. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/2 "2010-06-04T22:01:30Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > [No Joker For Nolan's Third Batman!!](http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45362) > > Good call IMHO. No one could top Ledger. It has been a long time since I’ve seen it, but I thought the Joker character was pretty definitively killed at the end of the film. ---
**Author:** ![Lightsaber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lightsaber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightsaber)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/3 "2010-06-04T22:05:45Z")
No, he was definitively left alive. The Nicholson Joker was toasted though. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/4 "2010-06-04T22:21:34Z")
It was the only choice really. What actor would want to fill those shoes so soon? Shortly after TDK came out there was a Joker graphic novel that “Nolanized” several of Batman’s rogues gallery. Anyone of them could make a fine movie villain. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/5 "2010-06-04T22:51:38Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It has been a long time since I’ve seen it, but I thought the Joker character was pretty definitively killed at the end of the film. 😕 Not at all. I think he’s left hanging from the building. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/6 "2010-06-04T23:02:26Z")
They even made a point of saying “We’ll be doing this for a long time won’t we” to set up that the Joker IS Batman’s nemesis… and would be in the hopper to get pulled out again… A bunch of drugs in an Olsen Twin’s apartment saw that that didn’t happen. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/7 "2010-06-04T23:06:56Z")
So…I guess the Gotham heroes’ refusing to kill him to stop his reign of terror really _wasn’t_ worth it. Doh. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/8 "2010-06-04T23:11:40Z")
Let’s go to my earlier suggestion of Owen Wilson as the creepily pedophilic Mad Hatter. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/9 "2010-06-04T23:38:48Z")
Killer Croc, dammit. No more skinny little weirdos, I wanna see the bat’s ass whooped but good a few times this round. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/10 "2010-06-04T23:39:03Z")
I think Ledger’s performance was good, but also highly overrated. The guy playing Two-Face was better in that movie, frankly. It’s a shame if an iconic character like the Joker gets shelved merely because one actor that played him died. I’m not saying a third movie without a Joker is a bad thing, just if they won’t use him only because of Ledger, that’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/11 "2010-06-05T00:19:15Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > They even made a point of saying “We’ll be doing this for a long time won’t we” to set up that the Joker IS Batman’s nemesis… and would be in the hopper to get pulled out again… Here is the quote from the movie: > [@](#): > > The Joker: Oh, you. You just couldn’t let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You are truly incorruptible, aren’t you? Huh? **You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.** > Batman: You’ll be in a padded cell forever. > The Joker: Maybe we can share one. You know, they’ll be doubling up, the rate this city’s inhabitants are losing their minds. > Batman: This city just showed you that it’s full of people ready to believe in good. > The Joker: Until their spirit breaks completely. Until they get a good look at the real Harvey Dent and all the heroic things he’s done. You didn’t think I’d risk losing the battle for Gotham’s soul in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine’s Harvey. > Batman: What did you do? > The Joker: I took Gotham’s white knight and I brought him down to our level. It wasn’t hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push! > [the Joker laughs hysterically as Batman races off and the cops come to take the Joker into custody] ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/12 "2010-06-05T00:23:11Z")
I really wish that Ledger had survived. Yes, because death sucks in general but also because it would have been awesome for the third film. Come on, guys, you just know they would have done a _Dark Knight_ version of Harley Quinn. It would have been so awesome. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/13 "2010-06-05T01:15:29Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I really wish that Ledger had survived. Yes, because death sucks in general but also because it would have been awesome for the third film. Come on, guys, you just know they would have done a _Dark Knight_ version of Harley Quinn. It would have been so awesome. Problem is, Brittany Murphy also just passed away. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/14 "2010-06-05T01:31:21Z")
They’ll probably end up going with someone like Catwoman or the Riddler. Fair enough, but I’d like to see them take one of the goofier members of Batman’s rogues gallery and make them genuinely scary. Imagine Arnold Vosloo as King Tut. Try the veal, I’ll be here all week. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/15 "2010-06-05T02:28:29Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I think Ledger’s performance was good, but also highly overrated. I disagree. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/16 "2010-06-05T02:29:32Z")
Considering that over the years the various versions have cross-pollinated, especially with Batman: The Animated Series introducing Harley Quinn, having to make the Penguin look just like the Batman Returns character, and so on, I like the idea of pulling out something different as well. One of the odder rogues gallery could be interesting, or even one who isn’t that goofy but interesting and not well-known. Black Mask, maybe, or the Clayface with the backstory invented for TAS. Not much of a comic guy myself, too much material over too many decades. What I would seriously pitch, since they pretty much wasted Ra’s al Ghul (in my opinion) in Batman Begins, would be Riddler in a Saw style. Or how about the Music Meister, which is quite possibly the most screwed-up thing I’ve seen in a while, and happened upon purely by accident? Seriously, if you haven’t seen this, go find the episode on Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/17 "2010-06-05T03:01:57Z")
Like I said in the previous thread, another one that would be fairly good would be the Clock King. A villain who can essentially stop time, or move at super speed by changing time around him, or worse, damn you by slowing time around YOU. As the Clock King is not supposed to be a young man, but someone whose long career was ruined, they could use a good middle aged actor for the role, preferably someone with gravitas, but who is not Alex Baldwin or someone of that ilk. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/18 "2010-06-05T03:14:09Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Like I said in the previous thread, another one that would be fairly good would be the Clock King. A villain who can essentially stop time, or move at super speed by changing time around him, or worse, damn you by slowing time around YOU. Given that the most implausible device the series has had so far is a microwave weapon that doesn’t work as it should, throwing in a villain who can selectively modify the flow of time would be really out of place. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/19 "2010-06-05T03:34:42Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > [No Joker For Nolan's Third Batman!!](http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45362) > > Good call IMHO. No one could top Ledger. My feelings exactly. Any attempt to pick up the role will fail. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/20 "2010-06-05T03:57:25Z")
I have to admit, I didn’t like the Joker portrayal just because I’m tired of the “psychopath who makes ridiculously elaborate and intricate plans that work perfectly to the second” bit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982.md?page=2)