Heath Ledger’s Final Films Somewhat In Limbo
Â
Variety is reporting that some aspects of two of Heath Ledger’s final films, The Dark Knight and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, are in doubt due to his sudden death:
Production on Terry Gilliam’s indie “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” has temporarily shut down, while Warner execs are still determining how to adjust their marketing campaign on “The Dark Knight,” which is keyed to Ledger’s Joker character in its early stages.
“Parnassus” has three options: Replace Ledger in the role, shoot around him or shut down the production entirely. The insurance company will likely determine which option the producers take. [...]
Production on Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” sequel is believed to largely completed — principal photography concluded in the fall — but the initial marketing campaign focuses on the ghoulish Joker character.
To complicate matters further, the studio has just restructured its marketing operation. International marketing topper Sue Kroll now oversees all marketing for the studio in the wake of the exit of former domestic marketing president Dawn Taubin, who developed the “Dark Knight” campaign.
Kroll will likely have to move quickly to rejigger the studio’s current phase of the marketing campaign for “Dark Knight,” focusing on Ledger’s Joker character. This phase of the campaign had been set to run until March.
Dawn discussed this some on tonight’s guest spot on BlogTalkRadio Today. Maybe it’s just me…I understand that perhaps the marketing of the movie might have to be revised, but I hope they don’t change his scenes in the movie (and I don’t know that there are plans to do so, but it could happen). Heath was an actor, and he understood that when he was on a set he was there to do a job. That job sometimes consisted of scenes that were perhaps a bit on the edge (such as his Joker character), but he understood. It was what he was supposed to do.
I’d think after putting so much work and effort into a part, he’d want a movie he was involved in to be released just as it was always supposed to be. Imaginarium is in the beginning stages of shooting, and can be revised at this point, but The Dark Knight is pretty much completed and to mess with scenes now, even with the best of intentions, would change too much of the movie. I don’t think Heath, by all accounts the consummate professional, would want that of a project he was involved in.
I say be sensitive to his family when it comes to marketing the movie, but leave the movie itself alone and let it stand as a testament to his acting skills. The best homage one can pay to an actor’s craft is to let them act.
Pink Stripe WordPress Theme Designed by Joni Mueller &
Hey,
Thanks for the link in the article. I would be highly surprised if they change his scenes in the movie; the marketing will most likely be changed a bit, but how much? I mean, the Joker is one of the main villains in the film - and would Heath, in the afterlife, really want his character to get less attention? Hopefully sentiment doesn’t play into marketing decisions too much.
Comment by Erik — January 23, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
You’re welcome. I thought what you wrote was a well done article on the subject.
Personally, I have no interest in seeing the movie, but I do hate it when sentimentality comes into play when something like this happens. When someone puts this much of themselves in a project, I think they believe the project will go on as they planned it to, whether they are around to see it or not.
He played the part, everyone knows he played the part, everyone knows it was a disturbing role for him to tackle. Let it stand as it is.
Comment by k — January 23, 2008 @ 11:10 pm