RUMOR: Heath Ledger in ‘The Dark Knight Rises?’

Computer technology has allowed Marlon Brando and Sir Laurence Olivier to appear in films years after their deaths (in Superman Returns and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow respectfully), so the possibility of deceased actors getting one last appearance in a film isn’t so shocking. Therefore it isn’t much of a surprise that rumors are reporting that Heath Ledger might make a very brief “cameo” as the Joker in the next Batman film by utilizing unused footage from The Dark Knight. Hit “more” to get the info of this very unconfirmed, but fascinating, rumor!

Although director Christopher Nolan has previously stated that the Joker character will NOT be in The Dark Knight Rises, it isn’t a far-fetched idea that a brief shot of Ledger’s Joker in a cell in Arkham Asylum — the “home for the criminally insane” which houses Batman’s incarcerated foes — as a small salute to the Oscar-winning actor. Stuff, a New Zealand entertainment website, reports this tribute as a possibility (Ledger was born in neighboring Australia). Naturally if other rumors about the film’s main villain being Hugo Strange prove true (as we reported right here!), the Joker could appear in a delusional hallucination Batman experiences while Strange uses his mind-altering toxins on him. Frankly at this point I’m just guessing random possibilities, but the potential of a brief cameo is too intriguing not to speculate about!

If it were up to you, readers, would you include a Ledger cameo? Or would you leave this idea on the cutting room floor?