Join Empire | Log In RSS | Twitter
The Empire office TV is switched off. Empire Magazine
Search   
Empire Magazine
Join Empire
Get our free weekly newsletter

 
HD Movies
Streamed instantly on Xbox 360
100 Sexiest Movie Stars
The sexiest men and women revealed

Movie News

LATEST HEADLINES
YESTERDAY
Kick-Ass Gets A UK Distributor
Universal will help us all to see it!
New Jane Eyre Gets Hot-Right-Now Cast
Fassbender and Wasikowska in talks
Today's Thor Cast News: Idris Elba
Wire actor to play Heimdall
Mike White To Write Santa Wars
A tale of festive fighting for Paramount
Spielberg And King Join Forces
Under the Dome set for TV
Uma Thurman Finds a Bel Ami
Joins Robert Pattinson in drama
More Movie News

RELATED NEWS
25 September 2009
Exclusive: New Parnassus Poster
The UK quad for Gilliam's latest
More Movie News

RELATED FUTURE FILMS
Hippie Hippie Shake
31 December 2009
Traveling
31 December 2009
More Future Films

RELATED REVIEWS
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Empire Star Rating

Brand New Day (2009)
Empire Star Rating

Love Happens (2009)
Empire Star Rating

The Dark Knight (2008)
Empire Star Rating

The Edge Of Love (2008)
Empire Star Rating

Cinema Releases
DVD Releases

15 January 2008
Dark Knight Not The Joker's Story?
That's what Christopher Nolan says
Source: The LA Times

Dark Knight Not The Joker's Story?
Chris Nolan spoke to The Los Angeles Times very recently and he gave one quote that will probably give quite a few Batman fans pause. Of The Dark Knight, he said:

"Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is a tragic figure, and his story is the backbone of this film. The Joker, he sort of cuts through the film -- he's got no story arc, he's just a force of nature tearing through. Heath has given an amazing performance in the role, it's really extraordinary."

So, that would seem to mean that The Joker is not strictly speaking the main villain of The Dark Knight. But let's think about this for a second before we throw up our arms in fury that we've been deceived. As anyone who's seen the IMAX prologue will know, when we first meet The Joker in the movie he has already become the clown prince of crime. So this won't be an origin story for him (unless we get a few Killing Joke style flashbacks).

That means we take Nolan's quote to mean that we'll see Harvey Dent go from upstanding citizen to tragic villain, while The Joker just runs amok through Gotham causing mayhem and bloodshed and helping push other characters' stories along. That would make the marketing of this movie even cleverer, since we've seen next to nothing of Two-Face, meaning we've seen very little of the plot.

We think we're just fine with the idea of this, since we trust Nolan not to sideline The Joker and use him as a gimmick (there are those rumours that - potential spoiler ahead! – he'll play a very important part in the creation of Two-Face). But what do you think?

P.S. The article also confirms that Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Scarecrow, as was widely thought after pics were leaked apparently showing him as part of a gang.
Olly Richards

Have Your Say...
We want to know what you think? To have your say on this, and all of Empire's news stories, register here or login now.


Previous Story
World Exclusive: The New Wall-E Trailer
This kicks shiny metal butt!
Next Story
Witherspoon, Rogen In Monsters vs Aliens
Voice cast and first pic of 3D animation

Advertisement


Your Comments
Great news about Cillian Murphy coming back, the Scarecrow was tragically underused in Begins but could be a nice lead to the even more psychotic Joker. R.I.P Heath ... Read More

the_shakermaker About me

21:14, 25 January 2008 | Report This Post
Although I don't think Nolan's got any worries about this happening, i do wonder whether we're going to suffer from too many villians spoiling the movie, case in point spiderman 3, where more baddies was directly proportional to how bad it got... ... Read More

paffy About me

20:32, 20 January 2008 | Report This Post
Completely agree
We dont need another story of how the Joker became the Joker thats not what any of us want. A manic Joker running havok over Gotham may be exactly what the character needs and exactly what we want. The Scarecrow now is also supposed to be even more demented so a return for him will be welcome. Interested to see how the new Two-Face looks also. Batman has his work cut out for him. ... Read More

mayou316 About me

20:02, 18 January 2008 | Report This Post
The Dark Knight WILL be MEGA
The first one was a classic, and by far the very best Batman film ever, hard to see how they can top it, but judging by the trailer they will at least match it. And Spiderman 3 Was good. (still scratching my head over the $260 million they are reported to have spent on it?) ... Read More

boredbluekoala About me

23:24, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
Let's not forget the brilliaint sleight of hand that was pulled with the villain in Batman Begins... if they've managed that AGAIN with this movie it would be fantastic. ... Read More

raclements About me

16:25, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
RE: two face
I think the article explains why we haven't seen two-face. Plus ..... If you're gonna ask that kind of question, then you may as well ask "why haven't they shown the monster in Cloverfield yet" ... Read More

Arkduune About me

15:07, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
two face
if the movie is about mainly two face why don't warner brother stop messing around and and give us the picture of two face in makeup and stop putting out joker pictures every 5 bloody mintues ... Read More

matthew 25 About me

14:47, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
two face
if the movie is about mainly two face why don't warner brother stop messing around and and give us the picture of two face in makeup and stop putting out joker pictures every 5 bloody mintues ... Read More

matthew 25 About me

14:46, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
My pants can't take this
I watched Begins yet again (think maybe my fifth viewing) last night and it's fast becoming one of my favourite films of all time. As I've got older (late twenties) I don't tend to re-watch films like I did in my student days - when I watched films like Goodfella's, Platoon, Heat hundreds of times - but I still haven't got bored of the genius that is Begins. I have been a massive Bond fan since my parents took me to see View to a Kill when I was 7 and thought Casino Royale was up there with the... Read More

pawsey About me

13:27, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
I don't think that it'll be the Joker that chucks acid over Harvey Dent's face...I mean what's the point of casting Sal Maroni the guy who does it in the comic books if you're going to take away the one thing that he's meant for...If you read The Long Halloween and Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale I think that you'll get more or less plot threads they're hoping for. ... Read More

jackoffables About me

12:14, 16 January 2008 | Report This Post
Next Page

SUBSCRIBE TO EMPIRE
Subscribe To Empire Magazine
Subscribe And Get 3 Free Blu-ray Movies!
Get your free Spider-Man 3, Terminator 3 And Starship Troopers 3 Blu-rays when you subscribe to Empire magazine!


CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
The 100 Sexiest Movie Stars Revealed
The 100 Sexiest Movie Stars Revealed
The votes are in and counted! We can now reveal the 50 sexiest men and women in Hollywood!

3-Part Steven Soderbergh Interview
The director on The Informant!, Liberace and Knockout

The Story Of Fight Club
On the 10th anniversary of the classic, the story of how it began...

A Serious Man: Michael Stuhlbarg
We interview the star of the new Coen brothers movie

Thor: The Who's Who
A guide to the cast of Kenneth Branagh's superhero epic, Thor

New Moon Video Interviews
We chat with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner


Back | Print This Page | Email This Page | Back To Top

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
12 Issues For Only £25!
When you subscribe to Empire today
Subscribe Today »
Magazine Special Offers
Special offers on your favourite magazines
Latest Offers »
Three Free Blu-ray DVDs
When you subscribe to Empire today
Click here »
 
Movie News  |  Empire Blog  |  Movie Reviews  |  Future Films  |  Features  |  Video Interviews  |  Image Gallery  |  Competitions  |  Forum  |  Magazine  |  Resources
 
Mojo4music  |  Q4Music  |  Kerrang!  |  Aloud.com  |  Kiss
 
© Bauer Consumer Media | Terms And Conditions | Our Data Promise To You | Contact Us | Empire FAQ
Bauer Consumer Media. Company number 1176085 (England). Registered Office: 21 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DY