The Dark Knight

[aberdien]

As a follow up to last year's blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Christopher Nolan revamped the Batman franchise in 2005 with the immensely successful Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the title role, which chronicled the early years of the superhero. Nolan first garnered attention from critics and fans in 2000 with the groundbreaking drama "Memento," which he wrote and directed. He went on to direct the thriller "Insomnia," starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and recently wrapped production on "The Prestige," with Hugh Jackman and Bale.

Bale was most recently seen in the ensemble cast of Terrence Malick's "The New World." His other credits include "Little Women," "Portrait of a Lady," "Metroland," "American Psycho," "Laurel Canyon" and Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun," which was his first starring role.

Ledger most recently earned Oscar Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award nominations and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in the award-winning drama "Brokeback Mountain." His other credits include "Casanova," "Monster's Ball," "Lords of Dogtown," "The Brothers Grimm" and "The Patriot."

"Chris' unique vision is what made 'Batman Begins' such an outstanding film and we could not imagine anyone else at the helm of 'The Dark Knight,'" said Robinov. "We also can't wait to see two such formidable actors as Christian and Heath face off with each other as Batman and The Joker."

"I'm excited to continue the story we started with 'Batman Begins,'" added Nolan. "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 begin on The Dark Knight in early 2007.

[Charlie Brown]

cademy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.....

Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale's Batman is going to be incredible."

Production is set to begin on The Dark Knight in early 2007.

No thanks, Heath Ledger?! Heath freaking Ledger?! That is a horrible choice. I was really rooting for Crispin Glover (who would make an amazing Joker).

[Nick7]

suhweet.....

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

No thanks, Heath Ledger?! Heath freaking Ledger?! That is a horrible choice. I was really rooting for Crispin Glover (who would make an amazing Joker).
I totally agree I mean come on Heath freaking Ledger as the joker :confused:

[Eldritch]

Actually, I think Heath can do it. He won't be as comical as Jack, but probably a lot more fiendishly deadly.

Of course, I was rooting for Mark Hammil. I think he would have been the BEST.

Gotta go see if I have Heath on my HSX account...

[The Dark Knight]

Actually, I think Heath can do it. He won't be as comical as Jack, but probably a lot more fiendishly deadly.

Of course, I was rooting for Mark Hammil. I think he would have been the BEST.

Gotta go see if I have Heath on my HSX account...



I agree with the Mark Hamill thought.


He'd have a certian creepiness I think the part would require.

[Eldritch]

I agree with the Mark Hamill thought.


He'd have a certian creepiness I think the part would require.

Yeah, especially how he looks these days. He could pull off the creepiness and the smile without any help. And you WON'T find a better voice. Wild-eyed Luke would kick arse.

[DevilSpawn]

For those of you who remember The Flash TV series also remember Mark Hamill as The Trickster. (http://www.scifi2k.com/flash/flash_Trickster1.JPG) And wasn't he The Joker in the Batman: The Animated Series? How can you not cast him as The Joker? :goofy:

[Snapping Turtle]

No thanks, Heath Ledger?! Heath freaking Ledger?! That is a horrible choice. I was really rooting for Crispin Glover (who would make an amazing Joker).

Heath Ledger, I must say is one good looking boy, I like watching movies with him! Well...when he's not playing a cowboy, that movie made me sad.

[WhoDeyBengals]

On Ledger as the Joker: I'm reserving judgement. When I try to picture him dressed up as the Joker, I can't see it... but when you think of how they updated the look of both R'as al Ghul and the Scarecrow in Batman Begins, it's a given that the Joker will have a more realistic look.

What I really want to know is whether or not Gary Oldman is coming back to reprise his role as Gordon.

[armedequation]

im just glad that Bale is staying on as batman. He might be a better one than micheal keaton was

[Tony]

On Ledger as the Joker: I'm reserving judgement. When I try to picture him dressed up as the Joker, I can't see it... but when you think of how they updated the look of both R'as al Ghul and the Scarecrow in Batman Begins, it's a given that the Joker will have a more realistic look.

What I really want to know is whether or not Gary Oldman is coming back to reprise his role as Gordon.

Gary oldman, michael caine and morgan freeman will be reprising their roles. :beer:

[WhoDeyBengals]

Gary oldman, michael caine and morgan freeman will be reprising their roles. :beer:
*cartman voice*

Sweeeeet.

/cartman voice

Ledger or no, I'm stoked. This is going to be awesome.

[Elway]

Ohhh. I thought this was a thread where TDK, the poster is supposed to entertain us... :huh:


But it's Batman.. so I guess it is ok... just don't let Joel Schumacher anywhere near the film, he killed off the series once already. :coffee:

[Nick7]

im just glad that Bale is staying on as batman. He might be a better one than micheal keaton was

Meh, I didn't like Keaton as well.

I thought he seemed too much like a funny guy. My favorite will always be Val Kilmer.

[armedequation]

Meh, I didn't like Keaton as well.

I thought he seemed too much like a funny guy. My favorite will always be Val Kilmer.

your kidding right? Mr nipple suit was just as comical as clooney was. Keaton was good cause he had this mystery aura too him in that movie

[WhoDeyBengals]

Ohhh. I thought this was a thread where TDK, the poster is supposed to entertain us... :huh:


But it's Batman.. so I guess it is ok... just don't let Joel Schumacher anywhere near the film, he killed off the series once already. :coffee:
I'm actually a card carrying member of the "Society to see Joel Schumacher pay for his Crimes."

[Elway]

I'm actually a card carrying member of the "Society to see Joel Schumacher pay for his Crimes."

Do you guys like have pep rallies or something where you burn him in effigy? :eek:

[armedequation]

Do you guys like have pep rallies or something where you burn him in effigy? :eek:


yes, voodoo dolls are passed out at the beginning of every gathering

[WhoDeyBengals]

Do you guys like have pep rallies or something where you burn him in effigy? :eek:
We're not very organized, but I'm told we're everywhere. :D

[Tony]

I enjoyed batman begins despite the fight chororgraphy being shot to close up. Hopefully, nolan will shoot the fight/action scenes better. Batman and Batman Returns will still hold a place to my heart. Keaton was more dark in returns, and burton's vision of gotham city is still cool to look at. I liked the chemisty keaton had with michelle pffeifer. And she nailed catwoman pretty good. And although nicholson went over the top with his joker at times, he's still joker! Ledger has some shoes to fill for sure. :beer:

[Skywalker]

No thanks, Heath Ledger?! Heath freaking Ledger?! That is a horrible choice. I was really rooting for Crispin Glover (who would make an amazing Joker).

no one will ever play Joker as good as Jack Nicholson did

[WhoDeyBengals]

no one will ever play Joker as good as Jack Nicholson did
I thought that about Keaton, and then Christian Bale showed up.

We'll see.

*fingers crossed*

I'm rooting for Ledger. Not because I'm a big fan of his (although "A Knight's Tale" was surprisingly good), but because I want very badly for this movie to kick a lot of ass.

:beer:

[Nick7]

your kidding right? Mr nipple suit was just as comical as clooney was. Keaton was good cause he had this mystery aura too him in that movie


Val Kilmer is a more convincing badass, IMO.

I didn't really like ''...Returns'' I guess. I don't like the Burton's version of Gotham.

[armedequation]

Val Kilmer is a more convincing badass, IMO.

I didn't really like ''...Returns'' I guess. I don't like the Burton's version of Gotham.


thats why I i like bale as batman. He's a bad*** and plays that role perfectly

[Broncofan-13]

honestly, Ive never really liked any of the batman movies. *puts on blindfold and lights cigerette*

Ready
Aim
FLAME!

[armedequation]

honestly, Ive never really liked any of the batman movies. *puts on blindfold and lights cigerette*

Ready
Aim
FLAME!


i prefer FIRE to flame :D I only like the first one and begins

[WhoDeyBengals]

honestly, Ive never really liked any of the batman movies. *puts on blindfold and lights cigerette*

Ready
Aim
FLAME!
the Schumacher movies I'll agree with, and there were things in the Burton movies that, looking back, I absolutely hated. For example:

The Batman's Batwing and Batmobile are both outfitted with fully automatic machine guns. This is problematic, for obvious reasons. The real problem I had, though, was when Batman's piloting the Batwing, and he strafes the Joker and lets loose with every gun he has - and misses. Now, you see the Joker's purple-clad henchmen dropping like flies, obviously riddled with machine gun fire, but the Joker he misses. And then, to top it all off, the Joker pulls out a revolver, telescopes the barrell out to about 5 feet, and then shoots down the Batwing. I have three major problems with this:

1. The Batman doesn't kill. Ever.
2. If he's going to shoot someone with his nifty WayneTech weapons, especially an immobile target at close range, no way does he miss.
3. What in the hell kind of gun was that?!

So the Joker goes up to the top of the Gotham Cathedral with Vicki Vale in tow, and when Batman gets up there, he's confronted by three of the Joker's henchmen.

HOW DID THEY GET UP THERE?!!??

Either a) they followed the Joker up the stairs, which you never see, and isn't likely anyway, b) they were airdropped by the chopper, which wouldn't make any sense because the Joker would have gotten away, or c) they magically appeared.

Don't even get me started on Batman Returns.

Great personalities in those movies (although I personally disliked the DeVito Penguin), but man, plot holes galore.

[Nick7]

thats why I i like bale as batman. He's a bad*** and plays that role perfectly

Agreed, Bale has the best voice, IMO.

[RealBronco]

well i'm upset that they picked Ledger. He's not scary to me and to be honest, I've never really been impressed with his acting...well, his movies anyway. I just don't see him as The Joker. He looks nothing like him and he doesn't scare me. Since the new franchise is darker like it's supposed to be, The Joker should scare, not make you laugh or whatever...

I thought Crispin Glover would have been amazing. Or Paul Bettany (at least his acting...plus he's actually scary).

Or someone else that resembles him and can do psycho really well.

I just hope they don't mess up on Two Face if they decide to bring him in. They had Shreiber and Hoffman as two possibilities. I still say Al Pacino would kick ass as Two Face. I know he's big in his own right, and probably wouldn't work, but he'd still be a sweet Two Face...

[AZOmae]

I think Heath Ledger is a bad move. He's cast, but filming hasn't started yet, so there's hope. Remember, they cast Nicholas Cage originally to be the new Superman not too long ago. That would have been horrific, IMO. I like Cage, but not as Superman.

My friend who is a HUGE Batman fan, thinks that Dennis Quaid should be the Joker, just based on his smile alone.

Someone mentioned Crispin Glover. That's a great call.

Willem Dafoe already played the Green Goblin, or I would throw in a vote for him.

How about one of the Dillon Brothers? Kevin or Matt. They're kind of creepy, yet funny at the same time. So is Billy Zane.

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

Another thing.


If I do see this movie it will screw everything up because

Heath = Brokeback mounty

Heath = Joker

Heath = Brokeback Joker?

:eek:

[Charlie Brown]

Someone mentioned Crispin Glover. That's a great call.

That was me :)

[Charlie Brown]

I agree with your dislike of the Keaton films somewhat WhoDey.

I don't look that much into a movie...

but one thing that really bugged me was continuity.

In the original Batman, Harvey Dent (Karvey Kent in the first Batman Comic where he was introduced) was played by Billy Dee Williams (yea Lando Calrisian). Then in Batman Forever he was played by Tommy Lee Jones. That really bugged me.

[RealBronco]

I agree with your dislike of the Keaton films somewhat WhoDey.

I don't look that much into a movie...

but one thing that really bugged me was continuity.

In the original Batman, Harvey Dent (Karvey Kent in the first Batman Comic where he was introduced) was played by Billy Dee Williams (yea Lando Calrisian). Then in Batman Forever he was played by Tommy Lee Jones. That really bugged me.


that and harvey "two face" dent isn't black...

karvey kent? what? i've never known it to be karvey kent...or was this a typo?

[Tony]

I agree with your dislike of the Keaton films somewhat WhoDey.

I don't look that much into a movie...

but one thing that really bugged me was continuity.

In the original Batman, Harvey Dent (Karvey Kent in the first Batman Comic where he was introduced) was played by Billy Dee Williams (yea Lando Calrisian). Then in Batman Forever he was played by Tommy Lee Jones. That really bugged me.

Also in batman and robin, batgirl was related to alfred?? Where in the comics batgirl is commissioner gordon's daughter! :coffee:

[WhoDeyBengals]

Also in batman and robin, batgirl was related to alfred?? Where in the comics batgirl is commissioner gordon's daughter! :coffee:
*facepalm*

Joel Schumacher, I hope you get the clap.

:mad: