The Dark Knight
Ten years later on , 2008’sThe Dark Knightis still considered the gold standard of superhero movies . Directed by Christopher Nolan ( Inception , Interstellar , Dunkirk ) and save by Jonathan Nolan ( Westworld ) , this movie was the second installment in what would subsequently be refer to as “ The Dark KnightTrilogy , ” which also includes 2005’sBatman Beginsand 2012’sThe Dark Knight rise .
Like Tim Burton’sBatman(1989 ) andBatman Returns(1992 ) , Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightrevolutionized the superhero writing style on the big filmdom , show up that these property could be take badly , be turn over for Oscar wins , and still realize monumental amount of money at the box office . Ever since the foundation of the extremely - successful apportion population that is know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , Warner Bros. has tried to experience up toThe Dark Knight ’s standards while also seek to replicate the scope of the MCU . uncalled-for to say , it has been a thought-provoking time for the DC Extended Universe ( DCEU ) to manage to do both in recent time .
After ten yr , another superhero moving picture has yet to be as well - received by critic and audiences alike the way thatThe Dark Knightwas , which even earned the motion-picture show two Academy Awards in 2009 , let in a Best Supporting Actor honour for Heath Ledger ’s carrying out as the Joker .
There is much more toThe Dark Knightthan the commonly known fact behind its output . In hindsight , Christopher Nolan took many risks to make this motion picture . luckily , it all paid off , with $ 1 billion at the box berth and monolithic love from critics and devotee .
These are20 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of The Dark Knight .
HEATH LEDGER DIRECTED THE JOKER’S HOMEMADE VIDEOS
The Dark Knightfeatures two homemade videos that are recorded by the Joker and view by all of Gotham through the GCN channel . In actual life-time , Heath Ledger took it upon himself to engineer those picture , sacrifice them an recreational quality that would have otherwise been grueling for experience managing director Christopher Nolan to achieve . According to reports , Nolan supervise the shoots , but provide Ledger to direct them by himself .
Thus , the Joker ’s inexpert video depict a bogus Batman , as well as the one with the hostages and affirmation , were literally address by Heath Ledger , rather than Christopher Nolan . As it is wide know , Ledger was extremely empower when it came to his portrayal of the Joker , so it makes sense that he – the Joker – would take over the directing of those videos .
JACK NICHOLSON WANTED TO REPRISE HIS ROLE AS THE JOKER
Jack Nicholson played the Joker in 1989’sBatman , which was lead by Tim Burton . He is not only creditworthy for interchange the way that the character would be portrayed on - screen going forward , but he also added an extra storey of menace to the Joker that had not been seen before . In many ways , Jack Nicholson had a important impact on the public presentation that Heath Ledger would deliver nearly 20 years later .
Jack Nicholson was quite fazed about not being call to portray the Joker in The Dark Knight .
By 2008 , the actor was already 71 long time old , which was believably a determining factor regarding his ability to play the Joker , who is considerably younger than that . However , Nicholson was still not pleased , say : “ I ’m raging . They never asked me about a sequel with the Joker . I have sex how to do that . Nobody ever asked me . ”
HARVEY DENT TOOK OVER THE JOKER’S EMOTIONAL STORYLINE
One of the top accomplishment ofThe Dark Knightwas giving fan a version of the Joker that was unpitying and unapologetic . The quality never see a lesson and was never redeemed in any way .
From the minute that the Joker is introduce in the film until the last scene that he is see , this character looks and pretend the same . On the other deal , Harvey Dent was portray as a persona who went through change .
According to Christopher Nolan , there was – at one point in the script – a sort of story discharge for the Joker .
During an consultation , the director explained : “ We want him to be absolutely threatening in what he represents as a force of anarchy and chaos . That ’s really the understanding for Harvey Dent ’s prominence in the flick . It ’s his story that has to render the excited backbone of the film . ”
HEATH LEDGER ACTUALLY HAD FUN PLAYING THE JOKER
In hindsight , it is unvoiced to believe that Heath Ledger was having fun limn the Joker . He was for sure committed to the function , but many fan credit the type – andThe Dark Knightmovie itself – for having deteriorated the actor ’s genial state .
Well , according to Heath Ledger himself : “ Joker so far is definitely the most fun I ’ve had with any theatrical role . He ’s just out of control . He has no empathy . He ’s a psychopath , psychotic … goofball . And I ’m just thoroughly , thoroughly enjoying it . ”
In January of 2008 , month prior to the outlet ofThe Dark Knight , Heath Ledger was found alone inside his apartment . According to account , he was a victim of a commixture of prescription drug pills .
MICHAEL CAINE SAYS CHRISTIAN BALE IS THE BEST BATMAN EVER
There are six master actors that have played Batman throughout the character ’s many year on the big CRT screen : Adam West , Michael Keaton , Val Kilmer , George Clooney , Christian Bale , and Ben Affleck . In 2017 , after Ben Affleck was already wearing the Bat - suit on - cover , Michael Caine gave out an interview talking about the bequest ofThe Dark Knight , in which he played Alfred Pennyworth .
Speaking aboutBatmanmovies in general , Michael Caine order : “ Oh yeah , I ’ve escort all the Batmanmens , men . I ’ve get word them all . I call back by a retentive path , Christian is the best Batman I ’ve ever seen . ” So , there you go ! Legendary role player Michael Caine has no question about who the good reading of Batman is .
THE STUDIO DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS VERSION OF THE JOKER AT FIRST
Despite the fact that Jack Nicholson ’s portrait of the Joker was a monolithic succeeder in 1989’sBatman , Warner Bros. was not too sure about the direction and Christopher and Jonathan Nolan were taking with the eccentric inThe Dark Knight . According to Jonathan , “ the studio apartment did n’t get it . ”
It also does not help that Christopher Nolan make up one’s mind to cast Heath Ledger , who was better known at the sentence for his part inBrokeback Mountain . While that film had been well - find by critics and even nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award , it was heavy to see how a conflicted cowboy would transition into the Clown Prince of Crime .
Thankfully , the Nolan chum stuck to their guts , give way what would later be considered the peachy live - action mechanism Joker of all time .
KATIE HOLMES DOESN’T REGRET LEAVING THE DARK KNIGHT
Katie Holmes play Rachel Dawes in 2005’sBatman Begins , being set up as what would be Bruce Wayne ’s passion interest in the trilogy . However , when it come time to return for 2008’sThe Dark Knight , the fibre was recast , bringing Maggie Gyllenhaal into the fold .
This sudden switch between actresses make the press to conjecture whether Christopher Nolan had by design made the change himself .
However , the directorstated that he was “ disappointed”that Katie Holmes was unavailable to add up back . Years later , while promoting her filmAll We Had , Holmesremarked on that determination during an audience , saying : “ It was right for me at that second , so I do n’t have any sorrow . I think that Maggie did a wonderful job . ”
CHRISTIAN BALE ACTUALLY HURT HEATH LEDGER DURING FILMING
You know the conniption inThe Dark Knightwhere Batman beats the Joker inside the law department ’s interrogation room ? The Joker begin to express joy , seemingly unbothered by violence and pain . Well , grant to Christian Bale , that was really how Heath Ledger was act while filming that scene .
According to Bale , Ledger was “ egg ” him on , and telling him to keep going .
“ He was bang himself around , and there were tile walls inside of that band which were cracked and dented from him hurl himself into them , ” Bale enounce .
This is yet more proof of how committed Heath Ledger was to the office of the Joker , even willing to get hurt in social club to genuinely channel how the character would be acting .
THE MOVIE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THE JOKER’S ORIGIN STORY
When a character is introduced in a superhero movie , writers and directors often go into autopilot and craft an “ origin story ” that explain how that persona fall to be , how they gained those superpowers , and when they decide to become a wedge or a scoundrel . This trope is so tired that , by the meter that 2017’sSpider - Man : Homecomingwas released , Marvel Studios felt that the character had been inclose too many sentence already , and skipped the entire “ origin ” storyline .
The Joker , a world - famous baddie , ask no introduction .
Yhankfully , Christopher Nolan decided to not explain any of the character ’s background inThe Dark Knight . “ We never wanted to do an origin story for the Joker in this film,”Nolan has express . Instead , we saw the Joker in his rawest form – ruthless and stable .
WHY HEATH LEDGER WAS CAST AS THE JOKER
By 2007 , whenThe Dark Knightbegan cinematography , Heath Ledger was known for portraying William Thatcher in 2001’sA Knight ’s Taleand for playing Ennis Del Mar in 2005’sBrokeback Mountain . While he had sure enough gather enough attention from critic and audiences alike , it is safe to say that Heath Ledger was not an A - inclination actor in Hollywood– unlike hisDark Knightco - stars Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Morgan Freeman , and Gary Oldman .
So how did Heath Ledger demesne on Christopher Nolan ’s radar ? According to the director , he had met with Ledger “ several times ” for other labor , but nothing had materialise into a role . Then , the actor heard that Nolan was count for someone to act the Joker , and give tongue to his desire to get the role .
When they get together , Nolan saw that Ledgerunderstood the “ psychological concept”behind the Joker , and decided to hire him base on that whimsy .
