CB has a scoop on The Dark Knight stating that a controversial scene of Heath Ledger as The Joker may be cut from the film.
The site reports that Warner Bros. held some secret screenings nationwide of the highly anticipated Batman Begins sequel and because of audience reactions, a certain scene with the late Heath Ledger as the psychotic murderous villain The Joker might not make it onto the big screen this July.
Read about the controversial scene here below.
SPOILER
The scene involves Ledger’s Joker character pretending to be dead and being pictured in a body bag. Apparently the aftershocks of Ledger’s unfortunate death are such that many in the screening reacted rather badly to this moment and now execs are considering excising the scene altogether.
END SPOILER
The film, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale as Batman, is the last one completed by Ledger before his untimely death earlier this year. Those close to Ledger said that he really delved into the character and the young actor said about filming the role that, “It was an exhausting process. At the end of the day I couldn’t move. I couldn’t talk. I was absolutely wrecked.”
With all the effort and hard work Ledger put into this role, it doesn’t seem right to cut out the scene. While some audiences might be sensitive right now seeing Ledger this way, let’s keep in mind that he was acting. Will Ledger’s scenes be more eerie and disturbing now (much like those of Brandon Lee in The Crow were)? Most likely, but only because Ledger is no longer alive, not because his portrayal of The Joker was a foreshadowing of what was to come.
Remember after 9/11, no one could bare to look at the Twin Towers? Any images of the World Trade Center had to be removed from print, TV, and film projects. Even an awesome scene in Spider-Man involving the Towers was cut. Now that was a national tragedy where thousands of lives were lost, so it was understandable at the time. But to cut Ledger’s scenes because people who didn’t even know him reacted badly to his portrayal is just nonsensical. I’m curious who these people are who made it into these secret screenings — most likely not anyone who’s a real fan of Ledger’s or the Batman franchise.
I want to see as much of Ledger’s performance on the film as possible. Let’s hope the studio doesn’t enforce any cuts and that the filmmakers get to deliver a version of the film that’s truly their original vision.
I absolutely agree with you. No part of Heath Ledger’s performance shold be cut from the movie. I don’t think he (as an actor) would have wanted any of it to be cut.
I thihnk that his FULL performance in this film should be seen, so we can all once again remember what a terrific actor he was.
agreed. Its what he would have wanted.
The cutting of a scene is not necessarily because they are trying to protect people’s feelings. If the scene is cut it probably would be because people are being drawn out of the story by the shock of seeing Ledger playing dead.
I don’t think it should be cut, but I can understand why it may be cut for the theatrical cut.
Not gonna read the spoilers, but I’ll say this: Any cuts in the movie made for ANY purpose other than to hone the flow of the story will be over-reactionary and an insult to the artist who everyone is trying so hard to remember fondly.
I’ll add to Eve’s comments above by reminding everyone of the controversy surrounding Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers when it was coming out. People wanted to change the name of the movie because it reminded them too much of the twin towers. Luckily, leveler heads understood that, similarities aside, LOTR had nothing to do with either the 9/11 attacks, or their targets.
Heath Ledger’s final role just so happens to have been playing a sadistic villain. Sadistic villains do some pretty dark things… but that’s the role. That’s the character. That’s the performance. Cutting any part of that performance, just because it reminds people of the fate of the actor involved, is no different from changing the name of a movie based on classic literature, just because it reminds people of a terrorist attack.
Proximo died at the end of Gladiator. The passengers died at the end of United 93. Americans AND Saudis died all throughout The Kingdom. And, yes, Brandon Lee died at the beginning AND at the end of The Crow.
I’ll say it again… This was Heath’s final role. Let it stand.
I don’t think any part of Heath’s performance should be cut. He put so much into this role, and it took a lot out of him. To cut any one of his scenes out of the final movie would be disrespectful to him and to his memory. Leave everything he did in the final cut.
ugh, test audiences, was the godfather shown to test audiences?
gone with the wind?
WTF
test audiences are chock full of imbeciles who probably spent 10 bucks the previous week to see a movie like 21, do i want these people determining the fate of my movie going experience?!?!?!?!
NOOOO!!! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST NO
Absolutely no, the movie should not be edited. If anything should have been edited it should have been the real footage of Heath in a bodybag being wheeled into an ambulance on Jan. 20. Those reporters lacked respect and tack to have shown it millions of times on the news, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EDITED NOT THE FILM THE DARK KNIGHT. F…, the test audiences.
This is f***kin bull s****. LEAVE THE SCENE ALONE! SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR LEDGER! he didnt pour his heart and soul into that character just so u can take it away! Did they take out the Crow scene when funboy shot Brandon Lee cause he died on the set?! hells no they showed respect and till this day that movie has become a freakin legend! LET THE FANS DECIDE WHY DONT YOU! and it doesnt even sound that bad of a scene! come on quit with that!
We’re all working under the assumption that there is any truth to this rumor. I personally think it’s b.s. It seems to me someone just decided to start a rumor to take advantage of Heath’s unfortunate death. Unfortunately, now people are going to walk out of the movie wondering what it would have been like with that scene.
From what I’ve read the only people who have screened the movie have been Chris Nolan, his people, and WB exec’s. It seems to me that it’s way too early to be screening a movie that is being kept under tight wraps.
Yeah test audiences are what killed the movie. Why do they think asking a bunch or retards what is good or not will help with the end product? Remember test audiences said McCarthy “overacted” in Good Night, and Good Luck!
Wow. I completely comply with the point of view of this article. This is an amazing website & it’s so fuckin rejuvenating to read articles & comments from people who analyze things & actually think about their opinions.
It’s absolute foolishness to chop the scene. he was an actor, it was his job, it’s one movie- if you can’t handle it. If you can’t handle the ‘Joker’ don’t fuckin see it.
they left the scene in, at least in the dvd version