Jack Nicholson is ‘Furious’ Over Heath Ledger’s Joker

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 8, 2007

It’s safe to say that Jack Nicholson won’t be the first in line to see Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight next June when it is released. In fact, if I were a betting man I would say that Jack isn’t going to catch the flick at all. How do I know this? Because that’s what Jack told Josh Horowitz at MTV in an interview this week. When asked about Heath Ledger’s upcoming portrayal of the character that he played so wonderfully almost 20 years ago, Nicholson said that he was “Furious”. Here is a little snippet from the conversation:

MTV: What do you think of another actor, Heath Ledger, playing the Joker in next summer’s “The Dark Knight”?

Nicholson: Let me be the way I’m not in interviews. I’m furious. I’m furious. [He laughs.] They never asked me about a sequel with the Joker. I know how to do that! Nobody ever asked me.

MTV: It was never brought up?

Nicholson: No. It’s like, in any area, you can’t believe the reasons things do or don’t happen. Not asking me how to do the sequel is that kind of thing. Maybe it’s not a mistake. Maybe it was the right thing, but to be candid, I’m furious.

MTV: I’m surprised to hear you sounding competitive about a role like that.

Nicholson: Well, the Joker comes from my childhood. That’s how I got involved with it in the first place. It’s a part I always thought I should play.

It remains to be seen as to whether Ledger’s Joker will be as well-received or as iconic as the one that Nicholson gave us in Tim Burton’s original Batman, but it is disappointing to see that Ledger never even talked to Jack about it. One would assume that a conversation about The Joker with the original Joker would be standard research for an actor taking on such a huge role. But then again, maybe Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger wanted it this way, starting with a clean slate and reinventing the character completely. It makes sense, seeing as Nolan and Co. have done everything possible to redefine everything about this Batman series. And who are we to argue — at least we won’t be seeing any nipples on the Bat suit.

What do you think? Should Jack’s Joker have had an influence on this new Joker? Or would you have started over completely, too?

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Robert Fure

Shut up, Jack. His Joker was kind of lame. Definitely wouldn't fit in with the new direction Batman has taken. Ledger needs to be a darker Joker and stick to the comic inspirations.

Keith

I liked Nicholson Joker because it fit the mood of the film, but this just seems a bit like sour grapes. I'm sure that a lot of actors cast into remake type films or tv shows don't care about the original actor, they want to bring their vision to the role. Lump him in with Dirk Benedict now....

Maggie Van Ostrand

One of the many reasons Nicholson rules is that he's honest. Maybe it's because he's been a major star for so many decades that nothing the media can say will hurt him. Whatever, it's refreshing to read that he's "furious" about this.

The prior post may well be correct, about the new direction Batman has taken, but it doesn't change that Nicholson is in a unique (in Hollywood) position to say exactly how he feels.

Betcha Ledger gives him a call now, just to talk about the interview.

Zap Rowsdower

Anyone who says they should have gone to Nicholson in regards the Joker role needs their heads checked. Also, Nicholson and Burton didn't go to Cesar Romero for the '89 flick, now did they? So fuck them.

Luis

Heath kissed a man and looked like he enjoyed it the Joker wouldn't do that

cavs2334

hey tard ITS CALLED ACTING do you think that heath ledger would have actually killed people in real life just for the sheer enjoyment? answer that question then you can talk.

Texan_2112

Don't forget that Nicholson's Joker was itself modeled to some extent from the wonderful TV portrayal by Caesar Romero. So there's a kind of tradition. Leger's Joker seems a bit too existential for my taste, when it comes to iconic comic fiction.

Robin

did christian bale talk with micheal keaton?

Michael

The Joker needs to be darker.

Gerlach

I'm not sure of how much Nicholson actually know about 'Dark Knight', perhaps he thinks it's more of a sequal than a remake, but I like that he's still so committed to his character and takes it's personal. I would love to see Nicholson cameo in the film, but not as The Joker. I'm convinced that Ledger will prove him self worthy and deliver an unforgettable perfomance. I think Bale and Ledger could have some serious chemistry and will blow our minds. I think it might even surpass the first movie. And now I'm bound for disappointment. Ah well...

Jack Nicholson is ‘Furious’ Over Heath Ledger’s Joker

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