Ledger's Joker performance untouched

From filmstalker, Now this is good news, so often we hear about films where an actor dies and the performance is altered, usually to tone it down or remove a scene where they are killed or shown in situations that people may associate with their real life deaths.

Yet that's not going to happen with Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, nor will there be any changes to the marketing of the film, something I whole heartedly agree with.

We all too often forget that these people are actors and their private lives are separate. Not only that but they are creating characters and performing for our entertainment, something they want to do and love doing, so why on earth would they want a performance altered, removed and forgotten because they've died? Surely they would want the performance shown to all and for it to have the chance to affect the audience?

That's why I think it's great news that the film will continue with everything untouched. What I hope is that they will do the same thing for his final appearance, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

The story comes from CNN and tells us that it's the director, Christopher Nolan, that is announcing this stance.


"I think he'd be very pleased to see we're just moving ahead as is...If you try to honor somebody, you honor them by respecting their work and putting it out there for as many people to see. He was immensely proud of the work he did on the film. I feel a great burden to present that in an undistorted form."

Well said Mr Nolan, and again I whole heartedly agree. The producer Charles Roven said that the last time he saw Heath Ledger was when he showed the actor the opening footage of the Joker and his performance.


"He was just blown away by his own performance...He said, 'Can I see it again?' So he was really, really thrilled."

Even the lead, Christian Bale, shares the view and hopes that the film will stand well in his short career.

"I hope that this can be seen as a celebration of his work," Bale said. "He did a phenomenal job. It was a real joy working with the man. It was a joy knowing him, as well. I liked him a great deal, and I liked also how seriously he took his work."

Let's hope that these last two appearances are a fitting end to his career, I certainly think that The Dark Knight will be.