The Dark Knight

Before his iconic routine as the Joker inThe Dark KnightHeath Ledger directly up hate mirthful Good Book flick , until Christopher Nolan convinced him otherwise . While there had been fantastic takes on the Joker prior toThe Dark Knight , including Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton’sBatmanand Mark Hamill ’s voice - over role inBatman : The Animated Series , Ledger ’s performance has add up to be look at the determine take on Batman ’s most famous nemesis .

Ledger ’s Joker is both terrifying and hilarious , a sadistic madman who always is likely two or three steps ahead of everyone else . It ’s almost well-heeled to bury now , but Batman buff were seriously upset when Ledger was first form . In the same way there was a recoil to Michael Keaton ( Spider - Man : Homecoming ) being throw as Batman in the 1980s , few could see Ledger in the role of the psychotic clown . Christopher Nolan was one someone who discover Ledger ’s potential drop and together they would craft one of the all - meter great screen villain .

Related : The Dark Knight Was Bigger ( & More crucial ) Than Avengers : Infinity War

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Heath Ledger had never appeared in a comic Word of God picture prior toThe Dark Knight , and with good reason - he hat them . WhileBladeandX - Mengave the musical genre a shot in the arm , their character during this earned run average was still in question . For everySpider - Manby Sam Raimi , there was an Ang Lee’sHulkorFantastic Four . In a 2006 interview withDark Horizons , Ledger was frank in his assessment of the genre . ' I actually hate risible Bible movies , like fing hate them , they just bore me sless and they ’re just dumb . But I think what Chris Nolan did with Batman was really really upright , really well directed , and Christian Bale was really great in it . '

Christopher Nolan’sBatman Beginsrebooted the serial after the fiasco ofBatman & Robinand grounded the character in psychological Platonism . Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy is considered a major turning decimal point in the perception of the genre , so it ’s easy to see why Ledger became draw in to the Joker when he was offer the role . His Joker is n’t some campy , cackle madman , but a cunning sociopath who contrive ingenious ethical dilemmas to put Batman , Commissioner Gordon , and Harvey Dent to the mental test .

The theatrical role seemingly come along out of thin air in the opening , and he wants to be seen as more of an mind than a valet de chambre . He also determine himself through his conflict with Batman , and while he might be capture in the finale , he ultimately succeed in vitiate Harvey Dent ’s individual . It ’s Ledger acting selection that make the type so compelling to keep an eye on , from his bizarre speech patterns and gruff vocalisation to his messy make - up . While the actor would draw on Alan Moore ’s graphical novelBatman : The Killing Jokeand Malcolm McDowell’sA Clockwork Orange , the final fibre is his unique innovation .

Heath Ledger as the Joker looking up in front of a white tile wall room in The Dark Knight

Tragically , Ledger put across away beforeThe Dark Knightwas released , with his execution moot instantly iconic . He was posthumously awarded Best Supporting Actor at the 2009 Academy Awards for his study . 2008 would prove to be a major class for comic Koran picture show , thanks to bothThe Dark KnightandIron Man , which would kick off the MCU . Both Nolan and Ledger crop to craft a memorable scoundrel to test Batman ’s moral code , and the late actor would leave behind a performance that is still being quote to this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . He took a risk with the   sequel ,   dive into a writing style he had a noted antipathy for , but gratefully Christopher Nolan was able to convince him otherwise .

Next : Every Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked , From Worst To Best

Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight holding up the Joker card

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The Dark Knight