The Joker Returns

It was reported today that Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain) will play the Joker in the sequel to last year’s Batman Begins, the commercial and critical hit revitalization of the Batman franchise.

Christian Bale will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, while Christopher Nolan (Memento) will direct the follow-up, titled The Dark Knight. Production is set to begin in early 2007.

Ledger resurrects a role teased at the end of Batman Begins, and oh-so memorably played in 1989 by Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's Batman.

While I don’t have anything against the erstwhile Casanova, is the Aussie the right choice for the role? The Joker has always been a heftier, older guy, hasn’t he?

I suppose that’s what made Ledger such a think-outside-the-box choice. Nolan and Co.’s vision for the new era of Batman films has been one rooted in change…in taking the story to a new level. So as long as Katie Holmes isn’t asked back, everything’s cool and dandy.

Still, I cannot help but wonder what say, Jack Black would’ve done with the role.

Photo: Focus Features (Brokeback Mountain).