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While Batman 3 still technically lives in limbo, The Dark Knight's Aaron Eckhart wouldn't object to a return to the franchise, should Christopher Nolan officially decide to make it. There's only one issue: Eckhart's character, Harvey Dent a.k.a Two-Face, fell off a construction site, and, sort of, well, died. Eckhart explained to MTV that Two-Face's death complicates his return.
As far as I'm concerned, my character's dead. I've sort of just gone on with my life. I don't have any expectations of being in the next Dark Knight, if there is a Dark Knight.
Still, Eckhart would return, if Nolan wanted him to.
If Chris called me, I would certainly do it. I would do anything for Chris. If Chris wanted me to ... I don't know, bring his tea or something like that, I would do it. I had such a good time making that movie, and he's such a great filmmaker.
It isn't too hard to see how Eckhart could return. Considering Gary Oldman's Commissioner Gordon fakes his death in The Dark Knight, Eckhart's Two-Face could do the same, opening up the possibility of a return. However, Eckhart thinks that Batman 3 may focus instead on new villains.
I think [Dark Knight] was always Heath [Ledger]'s movie, and Heath wasdefinitely the motor and the vehicle that was to continue on. I'm not sure that it's not better just to start all over and find different characters for the [next] movie.
Posted 09.11.09 by Ryan -
Variety reports that Heath Ledger's final movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, will have its U.S. premiere on October 11 at the close of the Hamptons Film Festival. The movie will then move to wide release on Christmas Day. It's the completion of a long road for Parnassus, which premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival but didn't receive American distribution until recently.
Ledger was filming the movie when he died unexpectedly in January 2008. Director Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Brazil) then enlisted the help of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law, who stepped in to complete Ledger's role. They will represent transformations of Ledger's character, an enigmatic outsider who joins the traveling troupe of Dr. Parnassus and gives his audiences visions of alternate realities.
Also starring in the movie are Verne Troyer (aka Mini Me), Lily Cole, and veteran Christopher Plummer in the title role.
Posted 09.08.09 by reelz -
Heath Ledger's final movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year but never received an American distribution deal. Now Variety reports that it may be released before the year is out. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group may pick up the movie and distribute it via Sony Pictures Classics. An official announcement is expected later this week.
Ledger was filming the movie when he died unexpectedly in January 2008. Director Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Brazil) then enlisted the help of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law, who stepped in to complete Ledger's role. They will represent transformations of Ledger's character, an enigmatic outsider who joins the traveling troupe of Dr. Parnassus and gives his audiences visions of alternate realities.
Also starring in the movie are Verne Troyer (aka Mini Me), Lily Cole, and veteran Christopher Plummer in the title role.
A short clip featuring Ledger that was released earlier this year and the official trailer follow.
Posted 08.13.09 by reelz -
Christian Bale has already bemoaned that he is contractually obligated to return for Batman 3 whether Christopher Nolan is involved or not. While Nolan and writer David Goyer have been discussing possible story ideas for some time, Bale may be without the director that revitalized the Batman franchise with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
According to a source speaking with Batman-on-Film, it took a lot of convincing to bring Nolan back for The Dark Knight, but after Heath Ledger's tragic death, it may be impossible to convince the director to come back again. The source confirmed that Nolan, Goyer, and Jonathan Nolan have discussed story ideas, but had originally intended for the Joker to return in Batman 3, creating a problem they have not been able to solve. So far, no decisions have been made regarding the story for Batman 3, pushing the movie's release until 2012 or, possibly, 2013.
Nolan is currently working on Inception, his sci-fi thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Obviously, fans would love to have Nolan return for the third Batman, but until Nolan's involvement is official, they will have to find solace in a report from February that said Nolan's studio deal for Inception included an agreement to make Batman 3. Keep your fingers crossed.
Posted 06.17.09 by Ryan -
Over the weekend, French site Comme au Cinema posted three new clips from The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, the movie Heath Ledger was working on when he died in January 2008.
Director Terry Gilliam enlisted the help of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law, who stepped in to complete Ledger's role. They will reportedly represent transformations of Ledger's character, an enigmatic outsider who joins the traveling troupe of Dr. Parnassus and gives his audiences visions of alternate realities.
The clips (included below) feature Ledger along with Verne Troyer (aka Mini Me), Lily Cole and veteran Christopher Plummer in the title role.
Posted 05.26.09 by reelz -
This past weekend, the first video of Heath Ledger's final performance surfaced on YouTube. Here's the clip from The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus:
Ledger was at work on Parnassus when he died in January 2008, and Gilliam enlisted the help of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law, who stepped in to complete Ledger's role. They will reportedly represent transformations of Ledger's character, an enigmatic outsider who joins the traveling troupe of Dr. Parnassus and gives his audiences visions of alternate realities. Also in the cast are Tom Waits, Verne Troyer (aka Mini Me), and veteran Christopher Plummer in the title role.
In addition, the movie's unofficial fan site has posted several stills and storyboards.
Posted 05.18.09 by reelz -
At the time of his death in January 2008, Heath Ledger was at work on another project following his turn as the Joker in The Dark Knight. Studio executives are already clamoring over the rights to The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, a present-day fantasy written and directed by the visionary Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).
Although the movie hasn't even had its premiere as an out-of-competition entry at the Cannes Film Festival -- which begins May 13 -- The Hollywood Reporter says Parnassus may be in the hands of a U.S. distributor even before Cannes gets underway. We'll keep you posted for further details.
Following Ledger's death, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell were cast to fill in his role. They will reportedly represent transformations of Ledger's character, an enigmatic outsider who joins the traveling troupe of Dr. Parnassus, who gives his audiences visions of alternate realities. Also in the cast are Tom Waits, Verne Troyer (aka Mini Me), and veteran Christopher Plummer in the title role.
Posted 05.06.09 by reelz -
Posted 02.22.09 by reelz -
6:45 The unofficial sequel for Pineapple Express added some levity to the proceedings, as James Franco, Seth Rogen, and 2-time Academy Award winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminsky poked fun with the rather dramatic-ness of the Best Film nominees.
6:52 More singing and dancing with Hugh Jackman! Nothing makes a comic book fan more excited for X-Men Origins: Wolverine than seeing a full Broadway display from Wolverine himself.
7:07 Another quorum delivers the award for Actor is a Supporting Role. For those curious about Philip Seymour Hoffman's tuxedo and knit cap outfit, it is chilly in the Kodak theater. And the award goes to...Heath Ledger, who joins Peter Finch as an actor to receive an Oscar posthumously. Ledger's father, mother, and sister accepted the award for him.
7:12 Best Documentary Feature goes to Man on Wire, the movie about Philippe Petit's high-wire act, and the speech ended with Petit balancing the head of the Oscar on his chin, sure to join Roberto Benigni's insanity and Jack Palance's push-up in a future "Crazy Moments of Oscar Speech History" montage.
7:27 Another win for Benjamin Button, this time for Achievement in Visual Effects. That's 3 for Button and 2 for Slumdog. The Award for Sound Editing went to The Dark Knight.
7:31 Slumdog evens the score at 3, winning over Button for the second time (Slumdog beat Button for Cinematography as well) with an award for Sound Mixing. Wow, make that 4 for Slumdog, with the win for Film Editing.
7:55 Jerry Lewis wins the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and Slumdog continues its onslaught with another win for Best Score. That's 5 now for Slumdog.
7:58 Animated Short Film winner Kunio Kato spoke backstage about his favorite part of the Oscars. "Meeting Jack Black. I've always wanted to be as funny as him." Well, saying "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto" in your acceptance speech is a good start.
Posted 02.22.09 by Ryan -
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided that Matilda Ledger would be the owner of the Oscar statuette if her late father Heath wins on Sunday (and really people, that's probably the safest bet out there) for his supporting actor performance in The Dark Knight.
While Matilda getting her father's highly probably Oscar might seem like a total "duh," apparently the situation was a rather complicated one. "It's complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered," says AMPAS executive director Bruce Davis. "First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there's the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it."
Obviously little Matilda is a bit young to accept (though that could be totally adorable and a welcome ceremony surprise); reportedly a member or members of Ledger's family (his father Kim, mother Sally, and/or older sister Kate) will accept the award. Posthumous statuettes typically go to the spouse, and if no spouse is living, they go to the eldest child. Of course, Ledger was not married, and Matilda is his only child.
Posted 02.18.09 by reelz