Gary Oldman Talks Heath Ledger’s Joker, The Riddler For Dark Knight Sequel

Posted on Sunday, June 29th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson

Last night in L.A., select film sites including Slashfilm were shown The Dark Knight. The collective positive buzz seems to have only increased in the hours since, reaching frenzied levels that are arguably unprecedented (especially for Twitter). Over the weekend, Movie Hole spoke to Gary Oldman about Heath Ledger’s role as The Joker, and what he thinks will happen per villains for a third film. Note: Some readers feel that Oldman’s quotes fall under spoiler material.

Update: Producer Douglas Urbanski, who is a friend/manager of Oldman, has contacted Slashfilm to say that he was with the actor at the time and believes the following quotes were “taken widely out of context.”

Discuss: What do you make of Oldman’s comments? Last time we asked, several readers felt that Hugo Weaving would make an excellent Riddler. Any other suggestions? And how about those early TDK comparisons (made by others) to Heat and The Godfather 2?

Note: If need be, does he believe The Joker will be recast, and if not, who’s the next villain?…

“I don’t see why not. I mean, they did it with Katie Holmes’ character. I understand that this is a different circumstance, but I think another actor could do the job. I think Heath would want another actor to do the job.” Oldman then took a moment to think about it some more, “Maybe we don’t need the Joker. Because we’ll have The Riddler.”

Nice save, Oldman. Also, poor Katie Holmes analogy. The following question is bound to paint the Earth in the coming weeks, just as it did with the release of Batman Begins (and look how that played out): Will Christopher Nolan return?

“We don’t really know if Nolan is coming back. …I guess I have to come back. …Nolan will come back for a third one. I think we all have to.”

For over a year, the rumor has persisted that Anthony Michael Hall (Weird Science, Rusty Griswold) plays Edward Nigma aka The Riddler in TDK. A few commenters have referenced the rumors down below. Slashfilm can confirm that ADH plays TV anchor Mike Engel in the film (as credited on IMDB). Moreover, days ago, Hall shot the chatter down to Sci-Fi…

“…people thought I was playing the Riddler, that I had a cooler role than I actually did. …But I was very happy to hear that there was talk online, I guess with Batman fans suggesting that maybe I was playing the Riddler. I wish I was, you know? I wish I was Batman, to be honest with you, but I think Christian has it locked up.”

Comments

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Ghost

I'd like to go with someone more along the looks and feel of The Riddler circa Long Halloween. I know if he looked like that it would be too campy but Hugo just doesn't come off as the type. I could have seen him playing Two Face though.

And what do we think of his comments? Well he's right, right? If you want Joker back you recast him. It'll be a bitch to try to be just like Heath's but that's what you get if you want Joker back. Otherwise they can just say, "oh Joker went to Metropolis now."

drbenway

No spoiler alerts on this website, I guess?

Graham

I think if they were to recast it ben foster should take the role

Steve

Ok, Katie's character is highly replaceable. If Ledger's performance is as legendary as we keep hearing, recasting it would be a huge mistake. Move on, next villain.

Myrix

Crispin Glover as Riddler.

Chip Chief

Wasnt there a rumor a while back about Anthony Michael Hall playing Edward Nigma in this one-- which would make him El Riddlero in Part 3.

Myrix

Anthony Michael Hall plays Mike Engel in TDK, a news reporter.

Christopher Edwards

I heard that The Joker won't appear in the third film and it will be based on two face in the third.

Gary Olman knows as much as anyone apart from Christopher Nolan to what is going to happen next.

But no doubt I think this film is going to be a milestone for everyone invloved.

head-in-a-box

so now we know the joker doenst die, to me thats a major spoiler and im sure to other readers! please put yourself in your readers shoes, most of us i bet do not want to know if a main character dies or LIVES.

Christopher Edwards

I heard that The Joker won't appear in the third film and it will be based on two face in the third.

Gary Oldman knows as much as anyone apart from Christopher Nolan to what is going to happen next.

But no doubt I think this film is going to be a milestone for everyone invloved.

Andy

i agree with ben foster, either as the riddler or filling ledger's shoes

A Better Class of Criminal

I really hope they don't replace Heath... it would be an impossible role to recreate correctly.

Here's who should be considered for the Riddler:
-Jude Law
-Edward Norton
-NOT Shia Lebouf for God's sake!

Just my opinion...

REAL6

CRISPEN GLOVER ASD RIDLER!!!

Indiefilm

Meh, Katie Homes performance wasn't good. I hope Nolan returns. As for the Riddler, I'll have to wait to make my judgement ,but I don't think its a right choice after the Joker in #2.

TheDaftPunk

Steve had the right idea. Katie Holmes' character was easily replaceable, but from what I've seen and read, Heath Ledger as the joker would be near impossible. Even if someone could match his performance, it wouldn't be the same. Move on to Two-Face and other villains please.

Brian

AMH is riddler durrrrr

Joe

Villains who could be used in future films:

Catwoman
Clayface
Harley Quinn (please!)

Any of the past Batman villains used in the four from the 90s

Kip

If Ledger does get an oscar for this I just don't see him getting recast. I would figured this film would lead to the final film with two face, with no real need for another villian. Unless they redo the whole Two Face/Riddler team up. If they do go Riddler, Long Halloween Riddler would be a good choice.

jproductions17

As much as I'd love to see more Joker, if its not Health Ledger, what's the point? He clearly IS the Joker and if the reports are true (which I'm sure they are) there is no replacing him. I like the idea of The Riddler replacing him, he's my favorite Batman villain next to Joker and he does play a kind of similar role. They are going to have to explain what happened to the Joker though if he doesn't die or go to jail in the end of Dark Knight.

Hupp

David Tennant for an original take or Jim carrey, He is the only role that can be recast and then reshaped. He can play a darker role just look at 23. While it wasn't a great movie he has range.

danny bell

to be fair, i dont think there would be a need to recast a joker. from the sounds of it, two-face is a definite for a sequel, and i think that would be utterly sustainable.

two-face would take on the role of a truly ruthless vigilante: heads=total disfigurement or disability, tails=a bullet to the head.

but if they are to cast a riddler, i would want it to be David Tennant (tvs newest Doctor Who, for those who dont know.) as has been seen, he can act both intelligently and ruthlessly as a better, or a more realistic incarnation, of the riddler than the 'ol jim carey version.

anyways, wouldnt it be fan-tastic if, in a later film, a few of the lesser, more realistic Batman villains fell foul of two-face? if you feel the same, then what villains would y'all like to see in mortuary cameos?

;-D

at

Thanks for ruining my whole weekend!

Lloyd

Come on Hunter. That's why we have "after the jump." =P

RageTreb

If The Joker was planned to be in the third film, I would not want Ledger's death to impede that. I hate to sound insensitive, and maybe I am, but for the first time we have Batman movies that bring back their villains for subsequent films, and I'd hate to see that concept thrown out due to respect for an actor, which if you think about it should have nothing to do with the movies or the story they tell.

orange cinema

@ peter

can this film get an oscar nod? or is ledger the only deserving part of the whole?

orange cinema

i guess a better question would be: which categories can you see this film being considered for?

Adam

I'd like Ralph Fiennes to play the Riddler.

If Batman Begins was up for Cinematography, and Heath Ledge is getting real buzz for The Dark Knight, then we may see some real Oscar talk for this movie.

It will probably be nominated for score- what they're doing sounds really good. Anyway, I'd like it to be considered in all categories, but who knows what might happen...

Neil

Hugo Weaving? hmmm intersesting...as for dave tennant That would be exciting...

@ joe
i think harley may be in TDK @ some point...i remember reading some things about her and sarah jayne dunn was cast and isn't credited w/ a part yet specifically...she'd be an awesome harley and i hope they get to her @ the end of this one-probably to lead into joker's role in the 3rd (now obv. questionable)

Schu

David Tennant as the Riddler please. He said he'd love to have that role too :)

charles

Jim Carrey isn't old yet. I would love to see him reprise the role. He's the only one that made Batman Forever watchable. But if he couldn't Vince Vaughn would be good.

Damn it!

This is the last time I surf this website. How about not discussing the fate of the MAIN CHARACTERS three weeks before the movie is released.

kris

CRISPEN GLOVER!?! He is a F&*%ing hack! And Jim Carey back... OH hell no! We need someone with a fresh take on the role. Not someone who copied the old tv series.

Retro

I just hope who ever the villian in the 3rd Batman is going to be is played by an actor in Heath Ledgers caliber.

Jeffrey Garten

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Clayface

M&Co

I thought Two Face was the villain in Part 3, what did I miss?

Patrick Francis

the riddler is not needed they should just focus on two face

Pete Apatto

Michael C. Hall who currently plays Dexter might be someone to consider for the role. He's demonstrated that he can pull off dark complex characters. Has anyone come across this before: Heath Ledger's Degrees of Separation</a. ?

Jetpackman89

IF this film is as good as they say it is i dont see the third one being any better. It's hard for me to say being a huge fan of Batman but it's almost true.

Retro

I dont think Clayface will be a villian Nolan has stated he wants the portrayal of the Batman series to be realistic as possible. As for Riddler, I can see it working. So far there has always been atleast 2 villians in Nolans Batman. Riddler and Two face would be great. Riddler can bring in some smart and intelligent puzzles,jokes, and riddles. Riddler can play some cat and mouse games with the Batman.

Bart

If they did bring Joker back in a 3rd film, why not go with one of the choices Terry Gilliam is using . . . Johnny Depp. I think he'd actually do a kick-ass job, and could play it close to Heath's interpretation and still make it original. I think it would actually really seem almost seamless really, especially with the make up and all.
Of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Potato

I think the the reason why batman Begins was good, was because of te good storytelling. Alot of that came from the comic books especially Batman Year One. For me it's all in the story, if they could make the next one anything like the Long Halloween, that would make my day. Just hope that they don't go through the same old formula they've been using for all the old Batman movies, one or two new bad guys per movie. It's probably sad that a movie such as Dark Knight Returns or The Long Halloween could never get made because the cost of having so many good actors in one movie would be insane, but that's what they should aim for, one of those stories.

don

The next movie is at least 3 years away so don't trip on the villians

Eliza

First of all, for those complaining of spoilers: Oldman's comments don't necessitate that the Joker lives. He was clearly being asked a question, which he answered. If the Joker does die, he probably would answer it exactly the same way. He wouldn't come out and say, "Oh, but the Joker dies, so we don't need to talk about that." Is that what you're really looking for?

Second, I'm still holding out for the Scarecrow to return for a bigger part in the third film. There were rumors way back when that his role was going to grow as the series went on. May not be true anymore (or ever), but I'd like to see it.

For the Riddler, I'll throw Paul Dano's name into the ring. Or Paul Bettany.

Oh, and is anyone else weirded out that Oldman isn't sure Nolan is in it for the long run? That has me a little worried. Why wouldn't he be?

Captain Awesome

Agreeing with Eliza here.

Crispin Glover would be too similar to Ledger's Joker. I think if they went for a Riddler character. They should go for someone really gaunt and creepy looking.

Oldman's comment doesn't bother me. Because he most likely doesn't know. It's not like Nolan divulges much info to his people. He'll probably do what he did after BB. Take a breather, work on something else. Then return for the final film. I can't wait to get an epic trilogy box set from Nolan.

CruzCostelo

what?

the list

Jude Law would be a fantastic RIDDLER. Definitely would have loved to see Britney Murphey as HARLEY. Scarlet Johannsen might be a decent original BATGIRL, but I'm not sure she can be tough enough. Martin Short would be the perfect MAD HATTER. Ben Kingsley as The VENTRILOQUIST, MR FREEZE, or the CLOCK KING. Or Patrick Stewart as the VENTRILOQUIST, the CLOCK KING, or MR FREEZE (the best Mr Freeze was the deathly serious one from the Animated Series, and Kingsley and especially Stewart would be perfect for that). I would definitely like to see Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as BANE. Andy Serkis would be a great PENGUIN. Angelina Jolie for CATWOMAN or possibly POISON IVY. Will Arnett for CLAYFACE. And possibly Sly Stallone for KILLER CROC.

Gajonka

Carey was a great riddler. I LIKE THE RUSTY GROSWOLD MENTION ABOVE! NICE !!! hahaha

jOKER SHOULD NOT BE RECAST...

Marc

There's a rumor that the current doctor David Tennant was in talks to play the Riddler and has said he'd love to play the role he's got the look lanky and can play both brilliant and psycotic so i vouch for the man and if they do replace ledger only 2 people could fill his shoes Johnny Depp or Ben Foster

Darth pimpness

according to wikipedia David hyde pierce is talked about as being the riddler, check it out!

Derek

The Riddler would be good,might be compared too much to Joker though and no one will ever top Heath's performance as a villain, in any superhero movie. We'll have two-face, I hope they introduce Catwoman. They could figure out a cool way to make it realistic. Harley Quinn could work too, as a way of revenge for Joker.

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Gary Oldman Talks Heath Ledger’s Joker, The Riddler For Dark Knight Sequel

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