[Movie] The Dark Knight (Batman Begins Sequel)

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/722/722015p1.html

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July 31, 2006 - Warner Bros. has announced the title of the next film in the Batman franchise. The Dark Knight will be the name of the Chris Nolan-directed flick. And the studio confirms that Heath Ledger will play the role of The Joker. An official press release is expected on Tuesday, so watch for more news!


The confirmation comes after rumors had begun to circulate online that Ledger was reluctant to sign on to play The Clown Prince of Crime.

In other news, The Batman-on-Film.com website reiterates the rumor that the next Batman movie will feature multiple villains, namely Joker and The Penguin. The latter will reportedly be reconceived for the film as "a British arms dealer/mob boss with designs on Gotham."

And who is said to have been offered the role of The Penguin? Nolan reportedly wants previously rumored candidate Philip Seymour Hoffman, who ironically beat Heath Ledger in this past year's Oscar race for Best Actor. Like Ledger, however, Hoffman is said to be reluctant to join the sequel.

Finally, a BoF report claims that Ryan Phillippe is in the running for the role of D.A. Harvey Dent, a.k.a. the future Two-Face. Phillippe appeared in last year's Best Picture, Crash, and will next be seen in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers.

Keep watching IGN for more Bat news!

Well, the title is set, and Heath Ledger is officially The Joker. It makes me hope that this picture is the real deal.



I love the title. It's simple and perfect. I think Heath is going to do a fantastic job as the Joker. He's proved himself as an actor and I am completely pumped to see what he can do. I personally was hoping for Mark Hamill, but Heath should be good none the less!

I really like that picture too. It makes things look really dark. The Batman series should be morbid, and that's exactly what it seems like they're going for.

Originally Posted by sprouticus

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/722/722015p1.html



Well, the title is set, and Heath Ledger is officially The Joker. It makes me hope that this picture is the real deal.



I love the title. It's simple and perfect. I think Heath is going to do a fantastic job as the Joker. He's proved himself as an actor and I am completely pumped to see what he can do. I personally was hoping for Mark Hamill, but Heath should be good none the less!

The picture there is a fake with Conrad Veidt who was the original inspiration for The Joker.

Heath Ledger is an interesting choice and I look forward to how he pulls it off and the look. The Dark Knight is a wicked title for the sequel too.

I love the title. I don't know if the choice of Heath for the Joker is going to be that great, but I won't judge before I see the film.

It's about time they make a batman movie called the "dark knight." It's home territory for s ome of the best batman comic books, like Frank Miller's "the dark knight returns."

I'm looking forward to this.

Did you know that Nolan wanted to make Batman Begins ressemble the dark gloomy world of Blade Runner? Really interesting choice of inspiration, but turned out so amazing!

Despite the picture being fake, I guarantee that will be the look Nolan goes for. I'm hoping for a dark, disturbed, psycho Joker, and I think Ledger can really nail something like that. Also, given Nolan's track record, I trust his casting choices ten-fold.

I was really hoping for Mark Hamill or even Jack Nicholson, but Heath Ledger is a pretty good actor, from what I've seen. He could be an interesting Joker.

Damn, I also wanted Mark Hamill, but only because of that laugh. As long as Ledger can make a laugh as good as Hamill's, then I will definately like the movie. However, Hamill perfected the joker laugh so we probably won't get the same.

Ugh, The Penguin?

Originally Posted by galen

Ugh, The Penguin?

At least it's not Mr. Freeze.

Originally Posted by Spyer

Damn, I also wanted Mark Hamill, but only because of that laugh. As long as Ledger can make a laugh as good as Hamill's, then I will definately like the movie. However, Hamill perfected the joker laugh so we probably won't get the same.

But unfortunately with Mark Hamill anything he does live people will be at the edge of their seat waiting for him to brandish a lightsabre. Has it been said anywhere that he was even considered for the role? If he could've gotten himself in "Joker shape" this would have been one of the few movies I'd pay to see at a theatre for, and be there on release day.

I just hope the music is going to be as good as batman begins. I really love that soundtrack

Mr. Freeze > Penguin. Sorry.

Originally Posted by galen

Ugh, The Penguin?

If done right the Penguin could be a fairly competant villian.

Think less Danny Devito and more boss Carmine Falcone from the first one. He's not a supervillian. He's a gangster.

And by second villian, I honestly doubt they mean anywhere near the screen time as Joker. He'll be there as a plot device, maybe have a few good scenes, but it's the Clown Prince of Crime's show.

As probably the biggest Joker fan on here, I'm actually pleased with Ledger's casting. While I was personally gunning for Adrien Brody or Paul Bettany, I think Heath can pull it off.

Originally Posted by acid

If done right the Penguin could be a fairly competant villian.

Think less Danny Devito and more boss Carmine Falcone from the first one. He's not a supervillian. He's a gangster.

And by second villian, I honestly doubt they mean anywhere near the screen time as Joker. He'll be there as a plot device, maybe have a few good scenes, but it's the Clown Prince of Crime's show.

As probably the biggest Joker fan on here, I'm actually pleased with Ledger's casting. While I was personally gunning for Adrien Brody or Paul Bettany, I think Heath can pull it off.

Well the rumour on Batman-On-Film has The Penguin being something of a British arms dealer/mob boss with designs on Gotham. Nolan and the studio are gunning for Phillip Seymour-Hoffman for the role which would be great if they managed to sign him up.

Hopefully they'll still include some of the original plan to introduce D.A Harvey Dent and eventually Two Face even if it's in the third movie.

That English-man twist for the Penguin sounds like a good idea, considering the overly eloquent/snobish style he's often been portrayed with.

I really know nothing about Ledger, except that he seems to be good enough an actor to star in an Ang Lee movie - that will have to do for now. Originally I was hoping for Steve Buscemi who sports both the looks and the talent for the Joker or maybe Josh Lucas, if they wanted someone younger. I believe Lucas is still in talks for the role of Harvey Dent?

I wants me some Catwoman in the near future.

Hey, just about any character can work in Batman, as long as you have the right actor! Pfff, we can have a movie about Killer Croc and it would still be good, but it all DEPENDS!

Killer Croc would be an interesting villain, come to think of it. Not as the main 'villain attraction' for the film, but cool nonetheless.