Movie News
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:
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?
Read more articles by Neil Miller
29 Comments
November 8th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
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.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
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….
November 8th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
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.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
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.
November 9th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Heath kissed a man and looked like he enjoyed it the Joker wouldn’t do that
November 9th, 2007 at 5:07 am
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.
November 9th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
did christian bale talk with micheal keaton?
November 9th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
The Joker needs to be darker.
November 12th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
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…
December 21st, 2007 at 8:27 am
yeah im deffiently not a fan of the new kieth ledger joker i think that the character was always supposed be portrayed as like an eccenrtic comical relief character and jack pulled that off well unlike this new one
December 30th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Hmm…. Its difficult… i reckon, play it true to the comics, but also, take essence from Nicolson’s Joker, and combine it with Ledger’s Joker, To make a Hybrid, both really true to the Joker’s Character. Apparently, what i’ve seen, Heathe Ledger’s Joker does’nt have that cheesy (yet somehow freaky) grin that Nicholson’s has all the time. instead, Ledger’s grin is kinda… “painted on”. soo… thats not so true to the comics… Joker’s grin is supposed to be permanent…. is it not? i can’t really remember…. but hey, either way i think Both Jokers are going to be equally good.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:31 am
“The Riddler says:
December 21st, 2007 at 8:27 am
…i think that the character was always supposed be portrayed as like an eccenrtic comical relief character and jack pulled that off well unlike this new one”
Yeah…i’m sure everyone laughed when he beat Robin to within an inch of his life with a crow bar and then blew him up for good measure. Or how about when he crippled Barbera (Batgirl) Gordan?
Do you actually know anything about the character outside of the movies?
I think it’s been blown out of proportion, in the interview it says Nicholson laughed as he said he was furious. If he really is serious though then that’s just sad :|
Nolan did a good job with Begins, so i’m giving him the benefit of the doubt till it’s out and then whine like a bitch if it sucks :p
January 5th, 2008 at 12:27 am
The original Joker (as in the comic-books) is a psycho drug-fu#$ed (at least acts like it) madman, not a cartoonish ponce who has spinning flowers and wears purple suits like Nicholson.
January 8th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Jack,get over it your like 2,000 years old.I’m sick of people putting Jack Nicholson
on a pedistal as well as the first Batman on a pedestal like they can’t be touched.Don’t get me wrong I grew up on the first Batman but this series is for a new generation.When I seen Batman Begins it blew the originals out of the water.I loved the way they did away with the over the top cartoonish style and gave a realistic tone that made you believe that Batman could exist.Burtons version was a classic no doubt but his version was more fantasey oriented.I’ve seen some of the leaked tralers on livesearch.com and trust me Ledgers vergion of the Joker looks like something serious.He makes Nicloson’s version look like Ronald Mcdonald.
January 8th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Oh yeah by the way Christian Bale is the ultimate Batman hands down!!(Sorry Michael)
January 13th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Isn’t the Joker SUPPOSED to have a certain theatrical perversion to his role? I don’t see Heath Ledger as theatrical as Cesar Romaro or Jack Nicholson… he seems to “serious” to be the Joker. The whole idea is that the Joker is a dark but colourful homicidal genius with an unstable emotional essence, which is captured in the Art Gallery dance to Prince or his Waltz atop the Cathedral in Tim Burton’s Batman… I think the real argument could be whether Christopher Nolan is even an ounce of what Tim Burton is as a director of a Batman movie… Batman Begins lacked so much that it makes you puke!
January 21st, 2008 at 12:07 am
In response to Naoto Yuki’s comment who gives a rat’s a$$ about The Joker being “theatrical”.Personally I think this version of The Joker will fit the direction the new series is going the way it should be.I think people are tired of seeing the same old pie in your face ,whoopie-custion version of the Joker thats been done to death. Nicholson’s Joker was too family friendly, Heath’s version would scare the piss out of you If you’ve seen him in a dark alley.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Heath Leger is dead.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
What a terrible loss. May his delicate spirit live forever
January 24th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Why would Heath speak with him about a whole new Joker. Fuck Jack, that was 20 something years ago, this is a new film and a new Joker. Jack just wants to cash in, like he did back in the day.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:42 am
The dark knight is more dark than Jack N. charactor, ie looks like heath is the darker new face. brandon lee in the crow ie sinister. Looking forward to the
new movie in the summer of 2008
January 26th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Naoto said it best: Heath’s Joker is too serious to be Joker.
In fact, if it wasn’t for Heath’s death putting things in perspective, I would be just as furious as Jack. Heck, if I look at things from a merely cinematographic standpoint, I might as well be twice as furious as Jack is. As soon I saw the first picture of The Dark Knight, I was speechless. I was like “p-p-pleeease, gimme a break! What the hell is this? A redneck man’s Joker? “. He looks downright offensive. He looks like an average guy using make-up for the first time in his life. In particular, that lips-to-cheek red stripe is a total mess. Once again, it looks like your average gutless guy’s miserable attempt at wearing lipstick without looking too gay.
To quote that man Nicholson’s Joker used to dance to: sign o’ the times.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
if jack is serious, he can go fuck himself. “well, i warned him” my ass. jack should be arrested and charged with “being a dickbag.”
February 5th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Mr. Nicholson is just intrested in money i bet a lot of you didn’t know he got a percent of the profits from the first movie. Ledger was in it for the role Nicholson is in it for the money…as simple as that. If he doesnt like it let him come after me :P
February 19th, 2008 at 1:39 am
I can’t believe we are arguing about the stupidest thing. Grow up people! Seriously! They are movies anyways, they aren’t life and death!
February 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
jacquelines comparison to brandon lee and THE CROW is a very sad one…true, but sad. 2 very tallented professionals with their own special styles. the rest of you…..get a life.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
When is someone going to mention the title of the movie to rebuke Nicholas the clown? Frank Miller opensTHE DARK KNIGHT comic with a psychopathic Joker doing a mass murder. Miller made the Joker a real criminal and not just a clown who comits crimes… as Jack had protrayed him? It seems Heather (et al) made him a little more crazy.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Jack Nicholson is a good actor, but, He like many others are comming to the end of their era. What makes him think everyone wants to see an old, fat balding Joker? He along with Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, Sylvetser Stallone etc. are getting too old to be playing these action roles.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Jack is an old fuck who needs to stop living the past. Time for a new generation to step in, out with the old and in with the new. Jack is way too old to replay the Joker and if he would have played his role of the joker again, we would have seen the same shitty remakes just like Die Hard 4, Rocky Balboa, Indiana Jones, and even the worst…Rambo. It’s all about the new generation of the Batman series and I give the directors and actors mad props for creating their own vision.