# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/41 "2010-06-06T00:05:19Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > Two words: > > Jason. Voorhees. > > Scoff away. Deep down, you know you’d watch it. No. It would take a lot to keep me from seeing the next Batman. But this goes far beyond that, and sends it a postcard from Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/42 "2010-06-06T00:35:42Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > I want Michael C. Hall as the Riddler. That is all. Or [Victor Zsasz](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Zsasz) ---
**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 6, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/43 "2010-06-06T15:01:24Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Or [Victor Zsasz](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Zsasz) Zsasz was in _Batman Begins_ already. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/44 "2010-06-06T15:09:29Z")
Interesting. I don’t remember that at all. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/45 "2010-06-06T15:11:57Z")
For a two or three second cameo - you could change actors, and nobody would notice - probably not even the guy who played him in the first one. That said, I don’t think Hall would make a good Zsasz - Zsasz and Dexter are two completely different types of psychopaths, and, while I don’t doubt Hall’s acting abilities, I do doubt the ability of all involved not to succumb to the temptation of just doing him as a scarred Dexter. I could see him as Riddler, though. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/46 "2010-06-06T15:14:02Z")
I received a bit of flack about a year ago for suggesting that this (no more Joker in the Nolan/Bale BM universe) would happen. Nice to see that I was correct. I guess. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/47 "2010-06-06T15:23:24Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > For a two or three second cameo - you could change actors, and nobody would notice - probably not even the guy who played him in the first one. > > That said, I don’t think Hall would make a good Zsasz - Zsasz and Dexter are two completely different types of psychopaths, and, while I don’t doubt Hall’s acting abilities, I do doubt the ability of all involved not to succumb to the temptation of just doing him as a scarred Dexter. > > I could see him as Riddler, though. It wasn’t a serious suggestion, anyway. I don’t read DC, so all I know about the character is that he’s a serial killer, and Hall’s role as Dexter was exactly why I made it. Personally, of everything suggested, I like Wilson as the Mad Hatter best. Or maybe an older, washed up Catwoman whose looks are fading that \*\*lissener \*\*(I think) suggested in a thread years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/48 "2010-06-06T15:45:28Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Or maybe an older, washed up Catwoman whose looks are fading that \*\*lissener \*\*(I think) suggested in a thread years ago. It amazes me that people think this would be a good idea. Especially after The Dark Knight, this would be a disaster of a movie without a killer B-plot. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/49 "2010-06-06T16:10:58Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Or maybe an older, washed up Catwoman whose looks are fading that \*\*lissener \*\*(I think) suggested in a thread years ago. So maybe Sharon Stone could get to play Catwoman after all. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/50 "2010-06-06T17:45:32Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Forgive my inexact quote from memory, but I think Jack Nicholson said of the Joker that the costume did all the acting. That being the case, I say just replace the late Mr. Ledger with another actor and go on with it. The way I heard it, someone told Keaton to just relax and let _his_ costume do the acting. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/51 "2010-06-06T18:15:07Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > 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. Actually, Ledger played a crappy Joker, nothing at all like the Joker from the comic. However, Heath did play a insane sociopathic criminal very very well. Jack actually did The Joker. I understand that Ledgers great overall performance has blinded many of his fans to the fact that he really wasn’t doing The Joker. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/52 "2010-06-06T18:24:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Actually, Ledger played a crappy Joker, nothing at all like the Joker from the comic. However, Heath did play a insane sociopathic criminal very very well. Jack actually did The Joker. I understand that Ledgers great overall performance has blinded many of his fans to the fact that he really wasn’t doing The Joker. By that logic, Liam Neeson played a crappy Raz al’Ghul and Cillian Murphy played a crappy Scarecrow. I don’t mind that the characters in the movies aren’t exactly like they were in the comics. In fact, I prefer that they put their own spin on them. I like originality. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/53 "2010-06-06T18:40:25Z")
I never thought Jack Nicholson did The Joker at all. He did himself, with a stupid grin mask. ---
**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 7, 2010, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/54 "2010-06-07T12:16:43Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I never thought Jack Nicholson did The Joker at all. He did himself, with a stupid grin mask. In other words, himself. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/55 "2010-06-07T12:44:04Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > In other words, himself. Jack Nicholson didn’t play the Joker; he IS The Joker! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/56 "2010-06-07T13:26:08Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Let’s go to my earlier suggestion of Owen Wilson as the creepily pedophilic Mad Hatter. Only if they get someone to dub, à la Gert Fröbe in **Goldfinger** , Wilson’s hyper-annoying voice. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/57 "2010-06-07T13:38:46Z")
> [@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. > > 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. Uh, no. One of the _best_ aspects of Nolan’s Batman movies is the fact that they are grounded, to a great extent, in realism. So what we don’t need is some magical villain who can manipulate time. At least not with Nolan directing. If the producers decide to go in that direction, they should just cut to the chase and bring back Joel Schumacher. Or hire Michael Bay or Brett Rattner. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/58 "2010-06-07T13:42:54Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Kristen Bell is allegedly interested in playing Harley. I myself would love to see Alyson Hannigan in the role. Kristen Bell as Harley Quinn? Now I’m going to spend some time in _my_ bunk. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/59 "2010-06-07T13:46:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Actually, Ledger played a crappy Joker, nothing at all like the Joker from the comic. However, Heath did play a insane sociopathic criminal very very well. Jack actually did The Joker. I understand that Ledgers great overall performance has blinded many of his fans to the fact that he really wasn’t doing The Joker. This presumes there is One True Joker, even in the comics, which is in no way the case. Ledger’s Joker borrowed from every previous Joker, but also put in a healthy dose of his own concept. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982/60 "2010-06-07T14:04:18Z")
(Regarding Jack Nicholson as the Joker.) > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > In other words, himself. As far as portraying the “Clown Prince of Crime” Joker (though a darker, more sinister version than the TV series), I’ve always thought Jack Nicholson was an inspired bit of casting-- nearly as inspired as Shelley Duvall’s Olive Oyl in Altman’s Popeye. Jack could just be himself… with extra makeup. Heath did a very good job of channeling more modern interpretations of the Joker, which build on the Joker’s insanity rather than his trickster/clown persona. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-joker-for-third-batman-movie/541982.md?page=4)