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Ledger should be at center of 'Dark Knight' commercials
In the wake of Heath Ledger’s death, Warner Bros. Studio found it had a huge problem on its hands. The marketing for their major summer release, “The Dark Knight,” has largely been centered around Ledger’s Joker. With Ledger’s death, the studio had to question whether to continue the campaign or abruptly end it.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, executives seemed to indicate that the viral campaign will be continuing for now. I think that’s the right decision.
Ledger was a gifted actor. I think it’s only appropriate that one of his last major roles – a role in which he seems from all signs to have excelled – should be celebrated.
Because the campaign began long before the tragedy, nobody can claim Warner is trying to cash in on the death. While I’d advocate them toning it down for the time being, I don’t think they should be afraid to put the Joker front and center.
“The Dark Knight” looks to be a movie largely about the character, and the ads shouldn’t hide that fact. To do anything else would just be deceiving the audience.
Comments
katie
01/31/08 @ 3:43pm
I don’t think they should change anything. After all, actors believe that the show must go on and getting rid of what looks like one of Ledger’s best proformances would not be honoring him.
Chris
01/31/08 @ 9:06pm
I agree, it is still a while until the movie comes out so sure maybe cool off on the promotion for just a little while, but it seems clear the psychotic scary Joker is huge in the movie, they have been promoting him like crazy way before he died, building suspense about the Joker for quite some time now (ie. huge contests revealing pictures of the joker as a prize for people who dressed like the joker all over the place months ago). From what I have seen in the commercial and in the 6 minute preview I think Ledger is going to be completely amazing in it, and blow everyone away. He looks so scary too. He worked so hard for such a great performance. I had doubts until I heard his laugh in the commercial, I had a feeling director Christopher Nolan would make an amazing choice. And seeing his creepy awesome stare like in A Clockwork Orange (my favorite book) or open firing a gun looking something like Brandon Lee (who also died before the amazing movie The Crow came out, and now he is known for his amazing performance), boy oh boy Ledger’s potential was just being realized. He plays an amazing hero (ie. The Patriot, WOW), and I can’t wait to see him play a villain in The Dark Knight, he has played many great and diverse roles. An ugly color for contrast in a painting or dissonance in a song makes the whole more full and more beautiful. Ledger has been one of my favorite actors since A Knight’s Tale- we’ll miss you Heath! The Joker has been anticipated for some time in Nolan’s new take of Batman and many people are looking forward to Heath’s performance. Why promote it less, it seems like it will be his last masterpiece.
Richie
02/01/08 @ 9:10pm
I feel they should continue with the ads with Heath Ledger as The Joker even though he is gone, they continued to show ads for The Crow after Brandon Lee’s death and it went on to be a huge box office success so they should do the same for The Dark Knight and celebrate the talent of Heath Ledger in his final role as The Joker. I feel deep down he wouldn’t want Waner Bros.to pull the plug on the film or its marketing campaign.
Sean Pultz
02/05/08 @ 12:08pm
I agree! The movie is a way of showing Heath Ledger’s ability as a charachter actor. He would want this movie to open regardless. I would be very disrespectful not to open the film. Besides, The movie will be very sucsessful.