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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

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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
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