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.
