New Batman movie will be postponed
The first thing I see in my e-mail this morning when I wake up? Actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment yesterday. The same Heath Ledger that starred in Brokeback Mountain and was cast as The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie The Dark Knight.
Filming was already well under way for the Dark Knight as I saw here in Hong Kong and from the insanely long trailer for the new movie I saw at the theater before I Am Legend started.
It’s not too often that a major actor dies in production of a major movie. A similar loss, only under much different circumstances, would be Brandon Lee who was mortally wounded while filming super/anti-hero movie The Crow.
They’ve yet to announce if Ledger’s death will affect the release of the new movie, but with a July release date, I somehow doubt they had all the footage they would need for the final cut before now. It’s sad to see anyone die, but it would be even worse for the work that the cast and crew of the two Chris Nolan led Batman movies to be lost because of this tragedy. I would hope they can finish the movie and honor Heath Ledger in it’s completion.
I’m pretty sure they’ll do something to honour him. But yeah you’re right, they’ll probably postpone the movie. Of course, now it just won’t be the same for me I think.
But I hope they at least try to not recast the Joker. seriously.
filming has already been completed. it was shot back in ‘07, so there is really no reason why they should postpone it.
There’s always scene reshoots or extra voice work to be done up till a few months before the final print. I hope it was complete enough to print, but we’ll have to wait and see.