I think Bettany could be really good in the role.

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=21341

So, rumor has it 2 actors are reading for The Joker soon...

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with an interesting rumor from BatmanOnFilm regarding the two actors reading for the part of Joker in the BATMAN BEGINS sequel. BatmanOnFilm usually have pretty reputable sources, but consider anything you hear about BATMAN as a rumor until they at least officially announce the movie is moving forward! The BatmanOnFilm site seems to have just gone down, but here is what they had to say:

Two of BOF's best - and completely unrelated - sources have confirmed for us that Australian actor Lachy Hulme (pronounced "Lock-ee Hewm") and British thesp Paul Bettany are the only actors that BATMAN producers are considering for the role of The Joker - at the momment. One of these two sources also told us that screen tests will indeed take place this fall, although it was unclear if one or both of these actors are testing...

In addition, one of these same sources told BOF that we were "dead on" regarding our report that Mr. Nolan will indeed return to The Cave once he completes his next project - which is said to be THE EXEC for Warner Bros.

I think Paul Bettany is a good suggestion for the role, especially since he's about to play the big Albino villain in THE DA VINCI CODE. Why not play the Big Albino villain (in the purple suit) for BATMAN BEGINS AGAIN or whatever it's called. Looking up pictures of Lachy Hulme... I'm not convinced. He looks like Dustin Diamond... now there's an idea for Joker... hehehe. I still stand by Crispin Glover as Joker. He's not only physically right for the role, but he's also batshit insane (although I must say he was very kind to me when I met him a couple years ago... just didn't want to be a total jerk). Bettany is an interesting choice, too. He is a villain in real life... Afterall, he gets to sleep in the same bed as Jennifer Connelly every night, the evil bastard! What do you folks think of this one?

They have some large shoes to fill. Jack's portrayal of the Joker is one of film's all-time greatest villains.

I doubt they can. No one's getting close to Jack.

Unless they put to film when he killed Robin. I'd cheer.

I hope the next movie is just as good, if not better, than "Batman Begins". That's all that matters to me.

I really like Jack's Joker, but that first Batman movie totally sucks in retrospect. Totally sucks.

I don't know if I'd go that far. The showdown in the tower does totally suck, however.

wait... you mean jack playing jack with make-up on? he hasn't "acted" since 1973. he's played his "jack" character in everything since then... don't believe me...? rent some of his recent work...

Batman Begins was a close 2nd comapred to Burton's Batman. I wish they had gone to something like Bane or Azrel (sp?). Will probably be pretty sweet just seeing how they did Begins. Giddyup.

Shit, if I was Jack, I'd do that shit too. What character would ever be cooler than that?

The Joker I always pictured in the comics was basically Jack. That's why he was the perfect fit. Arrogant with a touch of insanity. I'm not saying Jack deserved on Oscar for some amazing acting job, just that he was the perfect fit.

That would have fucking rocked. And I think it will take some balls to even attempt to out do Jack's Joker. I'll believe someone can do it when I see it.

*Edited

I'd appreciate Paul Bettany


could be hotness

see i was thinking china town, or flew over, but shining could be considered.

they probably could have picked up there, but i think they wanted to pretend that the last two sequels never, ever, ever happened

they are probably just gonna throw johnny depp in there for the sake of being different

Bettany is an interesting choice, shit I didn't even know his name before the article, but he has been great in everything I have seen him in. The other guy, I have no idea who he is.

My top choices for the Joker

1. Gary Oldman (to late for that considering he is Gordon)
2. Edward Norton
3. Sean Penn (his overacting skills could finally work out in a role)
4. Michael Keaton (sounds crazy, but if you can imagine a world where he was not already Batman, he is perfect for the role.
5. Al Pacino (he is nothing like the joker, but damn I would like to see him try)
6. Daniel Day Lewis (The best actor around. Looks nothing like him, but if he can play the Butcher, the My Left Foot guy, and The Boxer he can pull anything off. )

Bettany would probably be great at it though. The joker is so Iconic though, I think you need a big name guy to live up to it, or a comple unknown. Sounds strange to put it that way, but if it was Bettany most people would have an "OMG it is that guy" reaction to it.

I´d go with a complete unknown

Wrong, wrong, wrong, a thousand times wrong; at least for the new Batman franchise. Too many "big names" are what sunk the franchise in the first place.