Get ready for one of the more absurd rumors you'll read all week. According to Comic Book Movie – who've been shoveling out some doozies this past month – Christopher Nolan is entertaining the idea of giving a cameo to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight Rises. Since Legder unfortunately passed on prior to The Dark Knight hitting theaters, in order to do this they'd have to either use old never-before-used footage from The Dark Knight and/or some sort of CGI wizardry, similar to what The Sopranos did with Tony's mother Livia after that actress had passed away.
Tags: Heath Ledger, Christopher Nolan, Batman, Dark Knight Rises
Categories: Fanboy Fix, The Dark Knight Rises
Sadeeq said...
I like the idea. Heath was amazing, and a tasteful tribute would be pretty cool. Now i beg those responsible: Please don't be mediocre like the 'Hold my Hand' post-humus Michael Jackson release with Akon.
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classics only said...
Ever since movies have been made there have been actors who have died during production and there have been creative ways of completing roles for those who have passed. Anita Morris and Brandon Lee are just a few. There have been comments comparing Brandon Lee to Heath, the major difference is Brandon died because of an accident on set and could not complete the role he started. Heath died after production completed and finished his role,so to come along and reuse him is just wrong.
PHX22 said...
I thinnk it's a great idea and a wonderful tribute to an actor who delivered an outstanding perfomrance in the role! GO for it Chris Nolan!
milf1987 said...
While I agree with liking the idea that Heath Ledger be tributed in the 3rd movie, what everyone here seems to forget is even though he did a fantastic job at this role it ate him alive. This role is what caused him to need t o be on the drugs in the first place. I know that if it were someone in my family I would not want not it done because I would just want the whole thing done and over with. I do agree that if they are going to do it than they need to re cast him, because the joker has a HUGE role in the batman comics. Heath Ledger was an amazing actor, but leave him alone, and let him Rest in Peace. He will be greatly missed, but that is life.
RabidSoul said...
I believe Heath delivered one of the most insanely passionate takes of any character in movie history and I look forward to seeing his inclusion in the next chapter. He is missed but is certainly not forgotten. His contributions to the movies he has been in have ranged from good to outstanding. Again, I look forward to seeing him in Dark Knight Rises.
jklaaren said...
I can't get enough of Heath, I'm all for it. I have full faith in Nolan that they can figure it out and it be respectful. Look at all the dead musicians and rappers who have full albums released after their death!!! I hardly call a small cameo using old footage an angle on getting fans to theaters, because the Nolan Batman franchise stands on its own without Heath and will draw fans regardless. But I personally would love it, because he was so incredibly captivating in that role.
Daniel Carman said...
Good idea, but I'm a little confused in where you put it. Like those probably said before, the reason the Scarecrow returned was because he was not caught. In The Dark Knight, Dent died and Joker was (implied) brought in at the end. Unless there's trouble bringing him back to Arkham, I'm not sure how including a jailed Joker would make the film better. That being said, it's Nolan, so whatever he's thinking, it's sure to be good. He loves the Joker just as much as us. Have faith.
fordchris69 said...
Bad idea. It sounds cool at first, but given thought I'd let him rest. The only benifit of doing this is to pack seats to see someone who has passed. Using images of this way is greedy, rude and insulting to him and his memory. If the movie can't stand on its on that's sad. The movie doesn't need 'Cousin Oliver', and Mr.Ledger doesn't need this cameo to make him a star. I would say it's up to his family, but why trouble them with the loss again or tempt them into making his memory cheap. How sad would it be if the movie flops or the images that are used make him sound bad or lame. It's not really him acting if it's all cut up and taped together CGIed and, blah blah blah. But, whatever, either way I'll most likely see it.
815415164 said...
personally i think it would be a good idea...if nolan does really need his character in the third movie then i think he should use whatever technology is availible to him to get his story across...im not ledger so i cant speak for him, and would not if i could, so these are strictly my opinions...but if it were me i would have no problem with someone personifying me if i were no longer here to do the job....i really think that it would be akin to a tribute that even though ledger is no longer here with us that his legacy as the joker was fully realized in the completion of the jokers role in the batman saga. simple yes...there are many more factors involved in a decision such as this...but thats my take on the core of the subject........
tnbtibby said...
definitely do it! Heath would have wanted that :)
720541545 said...
I've been a fan of Heath and Technology for a long time... I say: "Have the teams do what they can as best as they can. Show off a little. The investments, made off the movie, support the idea."
mE73 said...
SERIOUSLY, FROM MY FAMILY TO YOU... Thank you, Nolan Crew & Co., for one of the best movies ever made in the history of cinematic film. Who wouldn't trust ya'll after The Prestige (saw it in the theater & loved it) & The Dark Knight (saw it a total of 7 times, the last in IMAX being the best)? Then Inception came to show your genius once again. Whatever you do in the 3rd will be as great as the first 2 & if you'd like to appeal to a couple DIE HARD FANS of Batman (we appreciate & grew up w/ all the old-school stuff, but feel your take is the best) and Mr. Heath Ledger, you'd put in a clip of him. Old, unused footage, CGI, doesn't matter; it would be, in our eyes, an honor to his family and the memory of him & Brandon Lee.
I know what people are saying about, "He said it himself. Not gonna happen. Meh. ha ha", or whatever, but nobody listens to those people anyway. lol It would, actually, be cool, classy, a tribute, and would provide a connection to the 2nd one, & series as a whole, that would be even greater than Cillian's cameo, as cool of one that was. I mean, how many chances IN LIFE, PERIOD, do you get to do something like this? I made the Lee reference because there's similarities, especially personally because we were fans of Lee's since, well, his father & throughout his brief career. People are begging for it because we love, respect, and miss him. Doesn't matter, ultimately, because they're gone. ...sure would be cool, though...
max5793 said...
Yes, do it. With consent of his family, of course. I like the idea of the intro rumble, like Scarecrow and Batman. How about this? Batman visits Joker inside of Arkham Asylum. Or like in the middle of the film. Have Batman going to Joker for some insight of looking or seeing how the next villain ticks. Like some background story between Joker and the film's villain. That would be awesome!
jayhight said...
Stupid idea. Heath would say no. Are we going to resurrect other dead actors? Heath can not be asked, so leave it be. Stop being so selfish and respect past actors for what they accomplished in their lives, not what we wish they had done..Let it go....
cassiekeyloy said...
Heath Ledger was a brilliant actor who died before he got a chance to show the world what he really could do. Any footage that is left over from the last movie should be included . His daughter will never get a chance to know her father, only through his work will she see what a great actor her dad was. Include if for no other reason than it will give Matilda another glimpse of her father.
1147306209 said...
The rumor has already been shot down by the studio. ITS JUST A RUMOR. But to be fair, as the article has pointed out, such a trick is not unprecedented. Remember Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000)? When Oliver Reed passed during the shoot they used CGI trickery to flesh out his scenes as Proximo. So doing so in Rises for Heath's Joker is a tried and true measure that will frankly become more and more common. But as I stated soon after this story leaked the Studio nixed it. Its a non-issue. Again, unless you hear Chris Nolan talking about his Batman, anything you hear is horseshit.
Cookie-Chan said...
All you people who are saying it's a good idea and that it's a great way to pay tribute to a fantastic actor are idiots and are full of it. The only reason you want Joker in the next one is for your entertainment only, it has nothing to do with tribute. The best way to pay tribute to him is by leaving the Joker alone and that's what Nolan will do because he's smart. Having a CGI Joker in the next one would be the biggest insult to Heath. It would be saying, hey we don't need the actual actor, we can just make an animated one and play with it, yeah shows how important the actor is. How about you folks stop being selfish and thinking about what you would like to see and think about what's the right thing to do which is leave Heath alone.
674491873 said...
Don't do it. It' scary. Too weird to have a dead actor in a movie.
ghastlyrat said...
great idea i love it it could be done tastefully and be a nice treat for ledger fans
steepside said...
I feel it would bring an element to the movie, the debate about how the scarecrow and its effect are not truely comparative, 1, scarecrow was not the true mastermind in the first movie so his role in the second would never have been as dominate, but the way the joker was portrayed in the second movie had a great depth and connection to the batman saga. Im a huge fan of heath and what he did with his character and i feel that even if he is not put into the movie he will always be remember through them more than another actor. Im no expert i just enjoy watchin the movie and cant wait to see what they do next.
carolineware said...
Definitely, Heath's Joker should be in it! He was incredible in the role, and I'm sure every moviegoer would want to see him. I know I would! I think it would be a GREAT tribute to HEATH and his talent, which was sorely overlooked so many times. Hope the family says yes!
deveaux said...
I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD IDEA! I REALLY HOPE HIS FAMILY GIVES THE PRODUCTION TEAM CONSENT. THIS WOULD ATTRACT MORE VIEWERS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO HEATH 1ST AND FOREMOST. HE HELP DARK KNIGHT REACH THE HISTORIC MARK! HIS EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE AS THE JOKER, DARK KNIGHT RANKED HIGH IN THE THEATRE!
Silverbullet89 said...
This really makes me think the female Villain is Harley Quinn! That would be awesome! That would mean the cameo would be of the Joker in the asylum and Harley talking to him some. That.would.be.EPIC!!
"Welcome to the party, pal."
"I am serious... and don't call me Shirley."
"When am I gonna learn how to punch?"
"These go to eleven."
"Benjamin, have you ever been severely beaten about the face & neck?"
"Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming."
"You're gonna need a bigger boat."
"Jessica's got cable."
"Squirrel!"