No it's both really. Burton and the people

Found this today

January 9, 2006 - Given the ending of Batman Begins and according to the rumors that have been swirling online, it appears that the Dark Knight's arch-nemesis The Joker will appear in the next Batman movie. Fans, including myself, have offered their picks for the role. The most oft-named contenders include Paul Bettany, Lachey Hulme, Jude Law, Crispin Glover, Sean Penn, Alan Cumming, Johnny Depp and Adrien Brody.


Now at least one of these illsutrious thesps has gone on the record stating that he actually wants the role.

In an article published in Friday's USA Today, Brody threw his proverbial hat into the ring. "I watched Batman Begins," said Brody, who won an Oscar for The Pianist. "I thought it was really cool. I would love to play The Joker. I think he would be deformed and creepier."

Brody has earned some fanboy cred by appearing in King Kong. His other credits include The Village, The Thin Red Line and The Jacket.

Brody for JOKER.....hey, why not?

Anyway, Nolan is busy with his promising THE PRESTIGE, where he reteams with Christian Bale, along with Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, David Bowie, and Scarlett Johanssen, before he goes off playing with BATMAN again.

More Bat buzz

January 12, 2006 - A scooper has advised Moviehole of two actors who might be frontrunners for villain roles in the next Batman film. The report requires one to read between the lines; I have and here's what I've determined.


For the femme fatale role, Moviehole's source claims that "this is the first screen appearance for this character in the Batman films and she has a very close connection with a major character in Nolan's first Batman movie. She will be out for revenge against Bruce Wayne and Gotham in a major way."

The unnamed actress is said to be a SAG and Golden Globe nominee who is currently five months pregnant. "She will be in tip top fighting shape once production begins to roll early next year but not before she throws a few coins in a fountain."

That actress would be Rachel Weisz, a nominee for her role in The Constant Gardener, who is pregnant with the child of Darren Aronofsky, who directed her in The Fountain.

But which character is the scooper referring to? The most likely choice seems Ra's Al Ghul's daughter Talia, given that "she has a very close connection with a major character" in Batman Begins and is "out for revenge against Bruce Wayne and Gotham."

For the role of The Joker, the big-name actor that Warners and director Christopher Nolan are said to be eyeing "has a major film coming out this summer and it's a sequel to one of his biggest hits. In fact, his performance in the first movie was nominated for an Oscar."

That actor, of course, is Johnny Depp, an oft-mentioned fan fave to play The Joker.

Moviehole's source adds that "rumor is that he might be interested depending on the script, which is being written right now."

Thanks Irish.

Anyway, this news...I'll take with a grain of salt. First its Hoffman, then Depp, then Brody, then my mother. Really, I hate these fly of the pan rumors that I myself can't trust.

Could Depp do the Joker? Well, is the sky blue?

As for Weisz...Yummy.

To those that probably missed that whole era in the BATMAN comics, Ra's Al Ghul basically had this whole premise of being an almost immortal person, with the rest of him basically featured in Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS. Wisely, Nolan and Goyer chose to ignore or at least really downplay that whole supernatural immortality angle from the comics, which unless I'm mistaken, Ghul was normal like all of us, but he can "reload" health wise by bathing in the Lazarus Pit, etc.

You beat me to the post.

I feel unwanted. I'm going to go cry myself to sleep now. Thanks alot, jack-off. :p

J For Joker

Batman-on-Film has a rundown on which actors are rumored to be up for the role of The Joker in the next Batman movie. The site points out that rumors of Hugo Weaving (V for Vendetta, The Matrix, LOTR) being in the running for the Clown Prince part have resurfaced.

Furthermore, the site adds that it "was informed by someone who knows for a fact that Crispen Glover -- while very interested in the role -- has not been contacted or approached for the role of The Joker. This would confirm what other sources have told BOF that Mr. Glover is not a candidate."

BoF also reports that "one of the so-called 'frontrunners' for the part, may not be in the mix any longer. Perhaps the Bat-folks aren't interested any longer, or maybe he simply doesn't want the role… Speaking of The Joker, I've been told that another candidate has emerged. This actor has been rumored for a part in this film previously, but not for The Clown Prince of Crime."

So who are these unnamed contenders? Lachey Hulme? Paul Bettany? Jude Law? Johnny Depp? Sean Penn? Time will tell.

Source: IGN

I'd rather see Depp or someone else play The Joker.

Me too

what is the planned release date for the film? I hope they will announce a cast soon and start filming. Too much time between movies can make people be not interested anymore.

I think 2008 if I'm not mistaking. Vercetti, have you heard anything?

Until WB confirms it, I wouldn't take any salt on JOKER or any other BATMAN casting rumors. I mean fuck, I count at least 10 for The Joker so far...

Summer 2008 for BATMAN BEGINS AGAIN, or BATMAN CONTINUES or BATMAN ESCALATES or whatever they'll call it.

Though really, Guy Pearce would make for a bitchin Harvey Dent, or better known to everyone, TWO FACE....

The Joker's Law

April 26, 2006 - Citing the same source that first informed them of Ken Watanabe and Katie Holmes' casting in Batman Begins, Batman-on-Film reports that Warner Bros. has several actors in mind to play The Joker in the next Batman movie but that the final decision will belong to director Christopher Nolan.

The insider claims that Jude Law is now a contender for the role of the Clown Prince of Crime. The rumor mill also recently suggested him for the part of Harvey Dent but BoF claims the studio sees him more as The Joker. (I suggested Law for the role of The Joker back in my "Clown Prince" casting column.)

Warners had Law under consideration years ago for their aborted Batman vs. Superman film. Law is an avowed comic book fan who sports a Watchmen tattoo.

"(Law) is a WB suggestion (one of a select few). WB do not have a 'wish list,' but WB has narrowed down a couple of names for Nolan etc. to consider later this year," said BoF's source, who added, "I can confirm that The Joker role is a small and mysterious one in the sequel. It will be nothing like the Jack Nicholson-style showcase that the previous Joker provided."

Other actors reportedly high on Warners' list are Hugo Weaving, who starred in the studio's V for Vendetta, and relatively unknown Aussie thesp Lachy Hulme, who was in WB's Matrix franchise. Hulme is considered a "dark horse" candidate for the role, but BoF's source revealed that "Hulme HAS met with the producers. He is the only actor not contracted for sequels to have done so."

Surprisingly, the oft-mentioned Paul Bettany is not on the studio's list, having played "too many creepy villain roles" already.

Be sure to check out Batman-on-Film for what their insider had to say about Hugh Jackman, Guy Pearce, Johnny Depp and other reported contenders, as well as what might happen with Katie Holmes.

Source: IGN

Robin Williams, Joker?
The actor's thoughts on portraying the famous Batman villian

June 26, 2006 - News of what's happening with the sequel to Batman Begins has been scant of late. Director Christopher Nolan has been hard at work on his Batman Begins follow-up, The Prestige, which re-teams the director with Christian Bale.


Most believe that the director's next film after Prestige will be a sequel to Batman Begins, likely with The Joker stepping into the villain slot.

Many actors have been rumored to play the part, but fan favorites include Paul Bettany and Adrien Brody. Another actor who has been mentioned in connection with the series since way back during casting for The Riddler in Batman Forever is Robin Williams. Of course it helps that the actor has a connection with Christopher Nolan, having starred for the director in Insomnia.

IGN FilmForce spoke to Williams about the possibility this weekend. He was enthusiastic about the prospect.

"Oh God, I'd love to do that one."

Williams is famous for his Jack Nicholson impression, but he suspects Nolan would be looking for a new take. "Well, you want to do a different Joker. You know, if they do Arkham Asylum, it would be amazing. Arkham Asylum is one of the greatest, nastiest comic books ever. It's truly, it's like the Marquee de Sade on that level, and wonderfully damaged and quite tragic, in terms of when you realize [what happened to] create these characters..."


We asked Williams whether he saw The Joker as more over-the-top or dark.

"You can go both," Williams said. "As in madness, there's a lot of ways to go. I think you can really explore how bright and how nasty-funny he is, just like I guess what Kevin [Spacey] did with Lex Luthor, made him really funny, but yet still damaged... As evil is, accessible and yet still horrific. Jump back and forth all the time. I'm kidding... Kidding!"

On the second kidding, Williams gave me a soft poke in the throat with two fingers. Amusing, but a bit surprising.

"See there it is," says Williams. "I saw your eyes go f**k off!"

Williams is an admitted fan of comics and/or graphic novels. "It's interesting now that they're doing, they all kind of realize, with all the adult comic books or graphic novels for those who are trying to upscale themselves... Is that a comic book? No! It's a graphic novel! Is that porn? No! It's adult entertainment!"

"They're making these really interesting pieces and there's a lot of great, great comic books and graphic novels out there that could make wonderful movies. They're looking for them, and it's great... I read this comic book called DMZ [by Brian Wood], which is about New York after kind of a Civil War. Could it happen? Every time the helicopters fly over my house I'm going, 'Welcome to Baghdad!' But it's kind of fascinating, because they treat it like the country's divided. All these cities like Lebanon and Beirut and Baghdad and military zones of control, yet it's still the village and it's still its own. Fascinating concept. That's what's good about alternative forms of literature or stuff that you read..."

Source: IGN

Actually, just get a good actor to play the part and then dub Mark Hamill's voice over the top.

Anyone who is a fan of Batman: The Animated Series from the early 90's knows that he was an awesome Joker, and that series came the closest to the comic-book portrayal.

DJ is right.

Though dubbing to me is pure ASS. Really, there are good actors, and besides, this is Nolan/Goyer's take on The Joker....but hey, Mark Hamill's schedule would be open, and pretty cheap too.

Seriously though, I think Mark Hamill tends to do great VO's for stuff. It really wouldn't be that hard to hire a decent joker-ish actor who is close to the comics (not like Nicholson, who looked nothing like the Joker as far as body type) and then just use Hamill's voice. It would be kicky.

Sure, but I doubt it'll happen. Besides, we never have gotten the Joker in the comics from the 80's onward, that of a psychopath with a twisted sense of humor. Nicholson tried to show shades of this, but overall THAT Joker was still from the "goofy safe clown" motiff that was heavily prevalent in the BATMAN 60's show.

Still, Hamill rocks as Joker.

Probably won't happen, but it would kick ass.

Anyway, I trust Nolan and Goyer with whatever they choose......and before anyone gets smart, Holmes was a concession to WB, so they had to use her in exchange for the rest of the very fine cast. Fair trade...maybe.

Maybe she'll be like all the previous bat-affiliated women and just disappear in the next movie? :p

Yeah, the "write off" female character

Well, at least Vicky Vale was mentioned in Batman Returns. I just want to know where they go... :p

When did they mention her? I don't remember that part. I think they may have mentioned her in Batman Returns and briefly mentioned Catwoman in Batman Forever

Batman Returns
And I think we see Catwoman briefly on TV during a conversation between Chase and Bruce in Forever.

Well, that idea of the disapearing women comes from the James Bond pictures, followed by those Indiana Jones movies of the 80's which followed the same pattern.

Then again, I heard that Holmes, if her character does return(and there isn't a guarantee that she will), then she'll probably get knocked-off by the Joker.

BTW, Guy Pearce for TWO-FACE!

Batman Returns
And I think we see Catwoman briefly on TV during a conversation between Chase and Bruce in Forever. [/b][/quote]It's been too long since I've seen them so I'd have to keep my eyes open for that. And thanks for the info on Forever. I've never seen Catwoman on the TV but next time I see it, I'll try to look for it

I second that! I REALLY hope he gets the part (which I think he will). He'd be so GREAT as Two-Face

Pearce kicks ass. It'd be great to see him work with Nolan again too.

Heath Ledger to Play The Joker?!

They scooped everyone on the casting of Brandon Routh in Superman Returns, and now Latino Review says The Joker has been cast in the Batman Begins sequel:

We were first to tell the world that Brandon Routh was going to be the new Superman. Now here we are at it again as we just got word from A VERY TRUSTED SOURCE that the offer last night was officially made to Heath Ledger to star as The Joker in the Batman Begins Sequel!

Stay tuned for a possible official announcement.

Source: SuperHeroHype.com