Michael Corvin

I'd take a Robin Williams' Riddler over Jim Carey any day of the week though.

NitroJMS

Is Joel Schumacher back in charge again?

james2025a

You have got to be kidding. Robin Williams hasn't been funny in well over 20 years. I thought Carrey was the best thing about Batman Forever and that he did a good job as the Riddler.

SuperBatMan

The more I watch Forever now, the more I think he was just playing his normal wacky self, instead of being the Riddler.

Josh H

I actually hope the Joker isn't overly animated. Batman Begins set a more dark and serious tone for the series, and I hope the sequel keeps that going, and doing so would require a less animated/over-the-top Joker than what we got from Nicholson.

Artman

Robin Williams for the Ventrilaquest (spelling?) would be cool...

I like Ledger, tho if Jake is cast as Harvey Dent it'll be a bit distracting....the Brokebat jokes will never stop.

BravesMG

Yep, I would certainly agree with that. I always thought Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face really got lost in that movie, I wish they had him as a stand alone villian, I really thought he did an excellent job.

GoldenJCJ

That's why in my mind Bettany would be the right choice. I can already picture him with a wide grin on his face emerging from the shadows, hair slicked back wearing a black fedora and black suit, giving an evil glare. That'd be one menacing looking mo-fo. Nothing over the top, just a real subdued psychopath

digitalfreaknyc

Shit. And here i expected to see hot latino men oiled up in speedos...and all I get is Heath? What a letdown.

B.A.

Agreed.

I actually like the casting of Heath just because it is so far out of left field. Nobody saw it coming.

cornbetts

Sorry, Heath, Paul, Robin, Crispin and others. The best choice to play Joker is Johnny Depp.

vinhj

Savvy?

Mr. Cinema

Paul Bettany as the Joker.

Heath Ledger as the Joker.

freshticles

This is awful news. Should have been Crispin Glover. I watched Willard the other day and his side profile is identical to the Joker from 'The Killing Joke'. It's amazing. Plus that guy can play crazy and would immerse himself in that role like noone else. Heath Ledger? I havent seen him act yet and the Joker needs a crazy over-the-top personality that I can't see Heath Ledger give him.

Peep

We'll have to disagree then. Oldman's character added NOTHING to the movie. Holmes actually worsened it. I've seen them both considerably better elsewhere, especially Oldman (obviously).

fmian

I think the new Batman movies are supposed to be about pulling performances out of actors rather than letting the obvious choice in actor just play himself. While Cripsin is a good choice for A joker role, I don't think he's a good choice for THIS joker role.
I agree on Bettany being a good choice but I have a feeling Ledger will surprise us.

I agree on Holmes not working right in the first movie though. All the other characters in the movie had a lot of texture and were complex, except for her.

clemente

No one here even knows what Joker's arc or persona will be in the film and already Ledger is a bad choice? There's nothing to indicate that this will be Burton's Joker.

I had my doubts about Bale, Murphy, and Neeson in their roles in BB, but Chris Nolan knew what he was doing when he cast these guys. The only truly bad performance in BB was Katie Holmes....maybe Nolan decided to steer clear of Americans this time, go with a strictly foreign cast (save Freeman).

freshticles

Heath Ledger would be a bad choice because he doesn't know what a character arc is. He hits his mark and drawls his lines. I havent seen him in one movie where I didn't think he was awful and none of them are as lofty of a role this is sure to be (it's the Joker. We all know he shouldn't be inanimate and talk like he has 3 testicles no matter what his character arc is).

reubs82

Oldman's character was at least more developed than the Gordon from the Burton Batmans, and some of the scenes actually mirrored Miller's "Year One". Ledger for The Joker will hinge upon the story arc of the Joker. If they go DKR, maybe it'll work. Killing Joke, not so sure. Based upon Nicholson, no one can go over the top like that. Ledger, if accepting of the role, will have to make it his own, much like Bale has made Batman his own.

Supermallet

I give a based on Ledger's past work. But who knows, maybe Nolan is planning something none of us could have expected.

Meanwhile, I still say Justin Theroux could be great as The Joker.

As for Oldman, I can't believe you guys are ragging on him. He gives one of his most restrained performances in years, and I loved it. I always cringe when I see him in The Professional. Now that is overacting.

mrhan

I think they should consider Andrew Koenig from the short Batman Dead End.

http://www.collorastudios.com/mp17.htm

iggystar

I too, loved Oldman's performance. It was understated, even in the limited time he was on screen. He really played Gordon as world weary, tired and when Batman finally shows up there is ever so slight the glimmer of hope in him.

Anyhoo, no to Ledger. I just don't think he has the acting chops. Glover, too obvious. Bettany...perfect choice.

gryffinmaster

Didn't think about that one. Good call.

Charlie Goose

Ledger was amazing in Brokeback, so I can see him doing a good job as The Joker. I do think Bettany would be a better choice though.

I can't see Glover in the role. Joker is supposed to be evil, not just weird.

Giantrobo

I think going "less over the top" would work well with the new direction the series has gone. Frankly, I'd rather see a scary psycho Joker than a Goofy psycho one.