Casting The Joker
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Warner Brothers, RumorMonger, Geek Report
Paul Bettany has emerged as a surprise contender for the role of The Joker in the sequel to Batman Begins. An insider told Batman-On-Film that his current competition looks to be Lachy Hulme and Crispin Glover, but not however, Mark Hammil. The source says Warner Bros believes the actor, who voiced Joker in the animated series, is "told old" for the role. In the next Batman film, the Dark Knight and Harvey Dent (rumored to be played by Liev Schreiber) take on the Joker.Bettany starred in such films as A Beautiful Mind, Dogville, and Wimbledon. He's also the lucky guy married to Jennifer Connelly.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-30-2005 @ 1:33PM
eric evans said...
Bettany is a good, charismatic actor who would be able to play the Joker as charming first, homicidal second, which seems ideal to me. I love Crispin Glover, but he brings such baggage along with him... and he's not quite able to pull off charming, is he? Just creepy.
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6-24-2005 @ 1:21PM
William Mize said...
As someone who really enjoyed Nolan's reimaging of the Dark Night, I think I'll have to give first refusal to Crispin Glover, because he's already nuttier than a june bug on a string, and I'd love to see him have a career renaissance.
Just think - two American Psychos (one real, one who played one in a movie) fighting on the rooftops for dibs on Gotham City.
I can see it.
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6-24-2005 @ 3:30PM
Tom Ford said...
I would vote yes on Glover, as well. He was a creepy dude in the Charlie's Angels movies... and he was unable... to speak.
(or just plain didn't)
and just seeing the trailer for Willard when it was released is enough for me to vote for him.
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6-24-2005 @ 3:32PM
Tom Ford said...
ps - Bettany is a horrible choice as Joker, btw. The character just wouldn't look right.
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6-24-2005 @ 3:43PM
Tom Ford said...
I would vote yes on Glover, as well. He was a creepy dude in the Charlie's Angels movies... and he was unable... to speak.
(or just plain didn't)
and just seeing the trailer for Willard when it was released is enough for me to vote for him.
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6-24-2005 @ 9:01PM
Tyler J. Smith said...
I'm disappointed Mark Hamil isn't a choice for the role. I may be a Star Wars fanboy, but I'd like to see him come back for one more major release film. He already has the voice down, now if he can just remember how to act......
If they're aiming for a 'darker' tone, though, then yes, Glover has my vote. Lachys role in The Matrix Revolutions/Enter the Matrix has spoiled anything I'd recommend role-wise.
Crispin as The Joker versus The Dark Knight already gives me nightmares.
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6-25-2005 @ 3:33AM
Sean McCarthy said...
Paul Bettany...because what this newly resuscitated franchise needs now, is a supercilious Englishman with the charm of a doorstop, and the face of an SS Hauptsturmfuhrer.
What's next? Colin Firth as The Penguin? Jason Statham as the Riddler? Clive Owen as The Stuffed Shirt with Stubble.
Not that Nolan and his paymasters have much to choose from, of course. Anyone who wants to play this role, will almost certainly be wrong for it. These parts are damn near un-castable.
But if I had to pick somebody...I'd take Benicio Del Toro for Joker. He, at least, gives the appearence of being able to smile.
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6-25-2005 @ 6:59PM
karina said...
Colin Firth as the Penguin - genius!
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