Warner Bros. confirmed Monday that Heath Ledger will be playing The Joker in The Dark Knight, the next installment of the rejuvenated Batman franchise I'm excited to continue the story we started with Batman Begins," director Christopher Nolan, who has also signed up for the sequel, said in a statement. "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 being on The Dark Knight early next year--the better to make Gotham City look eerily chilly and desolate--making the sixth Caped Crusader film a prime candidate for a summer 2008 release.
The star-studded Batman Begins was also a formidable force at the box office last year, taking in more than $370 million worldwide.

Hmmm... I'll reserve judgment. I had my fingers crossed on (admittedly a long-shot) Michael Keaton. Oh well. I can understand why Nolan wouldn't even begin to consider him, assuming Keaton would've been interested.

That sounds cool. I also heard that the Penguin is supposed to be in the Next film. I will always favor Michael Keaton's Batman But Like this new series.

oh great! now the Joker is GAY???

WTF do you get that...? :confused:

WTF do you get that...? :confused:

Wasn't he in Brokeback Mounting?

WTF do you get that...? :confused:

Heath Ledger starred in Brokeback Mountian... so with that as your basis of logic, of course he's gay. I mean c'mon... why would a straight actor play gay character? :rolleyes:

It was a joke--unless Ledger has acknowledged being very well qualified for the role in BM.

Ledger only pretended to be a gay cowboy, kinda like this guy pretended to whup the Indians, Germans, and Japanese:
http://hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/HollywoodCowboys/leading%20men/JOHN%20WAYNE.jpg

Or these guy's pretended they weren't gay cowboys:
http://usuarios.tiscali.es/cinefilo2000/g18.jpg
http://www.goreydetails.net/images/items/jpeg1053834842.jpg

I had a feeling that's the "logic" that was being used, but wanted to challenge it. Yeah... I'll bet that Heath Ledger would have a thing or two to say about any implication that just 'cause he's playing a character means that he - and said character - are automatically gay. :rolleyes:

But to be totally fair, there is now a precedent set forth by DC Comics, what w/Batwoman now being a lesbian. Not that there's anything wrong w/that....

Well, this didn't take long to 'go there'. How about Broke Bat mountain?

The Joker is psycho sociopath. I can see him being weird in other areas as well.

i dont want the Joker to be gay!!!

i dont want the Joker to be gay!!!

Yeah, because he was such a manly character in his previous onscreen outings:

http://tinyrevolution.com/mt-static/images/joker.jpg

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/news_images/1935_5070_4.jpg

Umm ... Heath Ledger played a gay part, therefore he is gay, therefore any characters he plays from now on are gay?

I hope some of you guys are kidding ...

That's like saying Clint Eastwood is a tough guy because he plays tough guys.

no wait...

That's like saying Pamela Anderson is a bimbo because she plays bimbos.

uhhh...

The more I think on it, the more I think that Mr. Ledger can pull it off.

Umm ... Heath Ledger played a gay part, therefore he is gay, therefore any characters he plays from now on are gay?


Sounds logical to me, fruit of the posioned vine, and all that. :jest:


That's like saying Pamela Anderson is a bimbo because she plays bimbos.


Have you ever heard, or seen an interview with her? She's a bimbo, because she is a bimbo! :lol:

David.

i dont want the Joker to be gay!!!

Fine, don't watch it. I really, really don't care.

That's like saying Clint Eastwood is a tough guy because he plays tough guys.

no wait...

That's like saying Pamela Anderson is a bimbo because she plays bimbos.

uhhh...

:lol:

if the Joker is gonna be gay, does that mean he will be "jealous" of Batman??

if the Joker is gonna be gay, does that mean he will be "jealous" of Batman??

<Joker> "Where does he get those wonderful boys?"

i dont want the Joker to be gay!!!

By the same logic, Jack Nicholson's a crazy, homicidal maniac because he played one in two films.

I think it's hilarious some people are getting worked up that an actor that played a gay guy once is cast as a villian in a Batman movie, since the whole Batman concept is arguably so gay to begin with.

We got a never-married rich guy who lives alone with his butler, and his longtime youthful companion who dresses like this:

http://z.about.com/f/wiki/e/en/thumb/0/05/BatmanTVshow.jpg/200px-BatmanTVshow.jpg

or this:

http://members.aol.com/MPreston88/robin01.jpg

And he likes to dress in leather and rubber and is frequently in the company of these guys:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b4/179px-Riddler-carrey.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/torontodreaming/film/photos/egghead.jpg
http://i17.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/fc/87/58_1_b.JPG

And, he won't sleep with these gals:
http://www.spiritone.com/~darren/graphics/julie6.jpg
http://www.tulsawalk.com/parks-places/tulsa/trekexpo99/yvonnecraig-batgirl-02.jpg


Yeah, I sure don't want Heath Ledger gaying up the franchise with his Brokeback Mountain baggage!
http://bricedenice.hautetfort.com/images/fun/batman_old.jpg
http://www.wow.net/teen/movies/batrob2.gif

By the same logic, Jack Nicholson's a crazy, homicidal maniac because he played one in two films.

We don't know how many people he's killed--yet! :p

And, he won't sleep with these gals:
http://www.spiritone.com/~darren/graphics/julie6.jpg
http://www.tulsawalk.com/parks-places/tulsa/trekexpo99/yvonnecraig-batgirl-02.jpg



Though at one point he really, really wanted to:

http://www.msstate.edu/Images/Film/MichellePfeiffer.jpg

Maybe Bat's bi... so that makes it OK...

I'll reserve judgement on Heath Ledger as The Joker until after I see the film. After all who would have thought Christian Bale would make a good Batman? He kicked butt in the role though, and as it turns out, I liked him the best in the batsuit thus far.

While I enjoyed the Tumbler as Batman's conveyance in the last film, I do so look forward to seeing what the next vehicle incarnation will be.

I'll reserve judgement on Heath Ledger as The Joker until after I see the film. After all who would have thought Christian Bale would make a good Batman?

Exactly. And I give a little more weight to the casting opinion of Momento and Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan than to the homophobic fanboys.

I hope the Tumbler is back, but the entire Gotham police force is looking for it.

It's time for a Batbike.

http://members.shaw.ca/pekpress/assortedphotos/B-KingBike.jpg

Yeah, can we all move on from this "gay" thing? Who cares?

I'm still thinkin' that Ledger can pull off a good Joker. I don't think he's really been given roles so far that stretch his acting abilities in that direction, but feel strongly that he can pull it off.

Amen to that Griff!!

Why else would Heath Ledger want to play the Joker?
he wants to play him gay!

Gawd.... :rolleyes:

You guys do know that john guard is just yanking your chains, right?

Qapla'

SSB

chains are an entirely different fetish.... let's not muddy the waters even more!

You guys do know that john guard is just yanking your chains, right?

Qapla'

SSB

Based on his posts from the past, I don't know that at all.

Based on his posts from the past, I don't know that at all.Maybe, but if you play it that way, it's more fun.

Qapla'

SSB

HEY!! i'm serious! the guy played a gay cowboy, now he wants to expand his range by playing a gay super villian!
besides, how do we know the Joker was never gay anyway?

Ummm....errr......uhh..... Not sure what to say really..... Chains? No thanks! How's that?

Playing a gay character....and playing a gay character well.....tends to typecast an actor. How many straight men here would make out with another guy for a big chunk of cash? The richer actors can turn down gay roles if they want. What makes a person want to take on a gay role? Bi curiosity? If an actor/actress is unknown, then maybe they feel they can't afford to turn down the money the role pays.

And it just never stops....

And it just never stops....

Hey, Colonel Tigh is your avatar...think he'd lend me a Viper to take care of these guys? :tongue:

By the same logic, Jack Nicholson's a crazy, homicidal maniac because he played one in two films.

Didn't he once get caught going ape on a car with a golfclub? Maybe that is just the tip of the iceberg. Jack Nicholson in the palor with a 9 iron. :lol:

David.

besides, how do we know the Joker was never gay anyway?

Two words for ya...


Harley


Quinn

http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/drool.gif

HEY!! i'm serious! the guy played a gay cowboy, now he wants to expand his range by playing a gay super villian!
besides, how do we know the Joker was never gay anyway?
Too put it mildly as possible .......... Who the heck cares???!!! :rolleyes:

Didn't he once get caught going ape on a car with a golfclub? Maybe that is just the tip of the iceberg. Jack Nicholson in the palor with a 9 iron. :lol:

David.

I said homicidal maniac. My statement does not preclude him from being your average, run-of-the-mill maniac. He is a Lakers fan, afterall. :tongue:

oh you'll care................

when a swishy Joker is on the screen giving Batman the "eye" !!!
why do you think the Joker is a criminal?
to mask his confusion about his sexual identity!!

^^^OY ! :freak:

I think they have to blow away the old perceptions of the Joker. Cesar Romero put such an inprint on it nobody can break free of his domination. Nicholson stretched the role, but didn't rewrite it.

I wonder if Ledger would have gotten the part if he hadn't made BM.

As long as it's a good movie it will all be okay!

That's the key, terryr. The actor who plays the next Joker must be versitile enough to put a unique imprint on the character and not rehash Romero's and Nicholson's performances. I'm keeping an open mind on Ledger because I haven't seen enough of his movies to have an opinion on his acting skills... but I do think Keaton has the chops to bring a different take on the Joker that would satisfy both fans and novices alike.