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Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier in BATMAN (1989).
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Jack Nicholson Talks About Nolan's JOKER

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Date: Thursday, November 08, 2007
Source: MTV

A curious interview appeared online between Jack Nicholson and MTV in which they discuss the upcoming DARK KNIGHT film, specifically the revision of the Joker character. While some sites are reporting that Nicholson is furious about not being involved with the latest version of the character, I'm not so sure about that one. Sure, he does mention being furious about the matter but he's laughing at the same time while approaching this subject. As always, it's difficult to determine whether Jack is joking or not, which seems fitting since we are discussing the Joker here...

Here's what he told MTV;

MTV: What do you think of another actor, Heath Ledger, playing the Joker in next summer's "The Dark Knight"?

Nicholson: Let me be the way I'm not in interviews. I'm furious. I'm furious. [He laughs.] They never asked me about a sequel with the Joker. I know how to do that! Nobody ever asked me.

MTV: It was never brought up?

Nicholson: No. It's like, in any area, you can't believe the reasons things do or don't happen. Not asking me how to do the sequel is that kind of thing. Maybe it's not a mistake. Maybe it was the right thing, but to be candid, I'm furious.

MTV: I'm surprised to hear you sounding competitive about a role like that.

Nicholson: Well, the Joker comes from my childhood. That's how I got involved with it in the first place. It's a part I always thought I should play.

MTV: Will you see the new film?

Nicholson: I'm not inclined to watch it because of what I said. But if it's a good movie, I'll catch up with it somewhere. I don't think they ever really captured Tim Burton's spirit [since he stopped being involved]. They kind of drove the franchise into the ground. Tim Burton's a genius. He had the right take on it. That's why I did the movie. I did the movie based on a single conversation with him. We both come from the cartoon world originally. We had similar ideas. Tim said [the Joker] should have a humorous dark side to him. [Burton is] one of the great moviemakers. I think the world of him. He's the most unassuming man. And he doesn't feel pressure. That's what I love about him. Once he's in there, he's smiling making the movie. That's it!

To read more thoughts on various subjects, like a possible Chinatown sequel,click the link above..

THE DARK KNIGHT hits theaters July 18, 2008.

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Comments/Responses

scoundrel • Nov 08, 2007, 12:46am •

Sounds like he hasn't seen Batman Begins, either, otherwise he'd realize The Dark Knight isn't a sequel to the Batman movie he was in.

daforce • Nov 08, 2007, 01:01am •

Sounds like Nicholson is trying to drum up interest in another remake..err, excuse me, *sequel* to the dismal Two Jakes. Nicholson hasn't taken a challenging role in close to 40 years now (and yes, I'm including the half-assed remake of "Infernal Affairs"). In fact, he wouldn't know a good role if it smashed in the windshield of his car with a golf club.

gauleyboy420 • Nov 08, 2007, 01:31am •

Nicholson is an acting GOD. I read a thread yesterday that had postings sucking Tom Cruise, and Will Smith's dick. WELL let me tell you this Nicholson ROCKS. His version of the Joker is a tall order by which Ledgers will be scrutinized. I know a ton of you will say "That wasn' tthe Joker" BUT IT WAS. It wasn't the only version of Mr. J , or even the Quintesentioal Joker, BUT It was a BAD-ASSED Joker. He deserves recognition NOT dissedense for that.
He's definately just Fucking with the "Hard Hitting " (yeah right MTV reporter. Nicholson coudn't give two sh*ts about an MTV interview or playing the joker again.

AND Daforce, you may not like him, but he has been in some incredible movies over the last 40 years.
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Easy Rider, The Shining, BATMAN, and many more. (by the way good attempt to show how cool you are while you bash Jack to drop the name of the movie that The Departed was a remake of, WHO HASN'T SEEN the original)
I feel like Burtons Batman is in the same category as something like the Simpsons. It's a totally quality production, that everyone raved about in the day, but in our A.D.D. world of 2 second attention spans, it's "cooler" to make fun of it because it's old, and theres something new to take it's place.
WELL I still love Burton's Batman, it holds up. And yeah they changed some stuff, I've seen greater atrocities done to comics sources, i.e. HULK.
sorry if I pissed you off Daforce, these statements are merely my opinions...based on facts I made up

BryanWay • Nov 08, 2007, 02:00am •

First of all, Nicholson was the perfect Joker, and anyone who says otherwise is just trying to be contrary and should retire any hopes at attaining a film/comic book geek status. Bob Kane, the comic's creator, told the studio in pre-production that Nicholson would be the perfect Joker. End of discussion.

Anyone with half a brain can't trash Burton's Batman, and certainly not on the status of not being cool enough. That's like bashing Citizen Kane for not being influential anymore.

Secondly, Daforce, you'd be hard pressed to convince me that The Departed was in any way a 'half-assed remake'. Rob Zombie's Halloween was a half-assed (I might venture to say quarter-assed) remake. The Departed was loaded with talent and artistry from the top down. True, Nicholson's role might not have been challenging, but after taking over the director's chair in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, how much more challenging can one man be in his own profession?

And for posterity's sake, I still think Ledger will be an amazing Joker. I have since the day it was announced.

NotAFan • Nov 08, 2007, 02:30am •

I liked Nicholson's Joker, my problem with it was that he was too old and too fat to play the Joker. It made it so that when they fought at the end all he could do basically was just stand there while Batman beat him bloody. That....was disappointing. All that build up for nothing. Still while Ledger is young enough, his Joker will suck beyind all suckage! WHY NOLAN WHY?

Bmfstunner • Nov 08, 2007, 04:05am •

So, Daforce, I know you just didn't say that Jack hasn't taken a challenging role in 40 years bc if you did then you have lost all credibility on this site. I'm going to list a long list of movies and this is basically going to burn you down: The Departed, About Schimdt (nominated for an Oscar,) As Good as it Gets (won an Oscar,) A Few Good Men (nominated for an Oscar,) Hoffa, Batman, Ironweed (nominated for an Oscar,) Prizzi's Honor (nominated for an Oscar,) Terms of Endearment (won an Oscar,) Reds (nominated for an Oscar,) The Shining, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (won an Oscar,) Chinatown (nominated for an Oscar,) Five Easy Pieces (nominate for an Oscar,) Easy Rider (nominated for an Oscar,) and the The Last Detail (nominated for an Oscar.) If you do not like him then say that, but to basically describe him as a shitty actor just makes you look dumb as hell.

Whiskeymovie • Nov 08, 2007, 06:15am •

Nicholson is an awesome actor, but he is another guy who is the same in everyrole. Look at me, I'm Jack Nicholson. I talk like i'm constapated. He was great as the Joker, but I think Heath Ledger is gonna blow him away.....it will not negate his Joker, but it will be impressive none-the -less.

silversurfer • Nov 08, 2007, 06:36am •

It's true Jack's Joker will be going up against Heath's and we're all wondering how that's going to play out...but to tell the truth, there's no comparison simply because this is a different Batman for a different age and time....

Jack's Joker was exactly what it needed to be at the time....while some may say that Jack is over the top with his acting....Joker is an over the top lunatic, and that's why we like him....so they were made for each other....

Still, this is a darker version of any Joker that we've seen to date, and this is defiinitely a darker Batman with very serious tones...so Heath's Joker should fare well...Jack's Joker would be out of place in a movie like this....

godsonfilm • Nov 08, 2007, 06:41am •

He was obviously pullin the reporters chain for even asking such a stupid question of him...

"Let me be the way I'm not in interviews."

Classic

madmanic999 • Nov 08, 2007, 07:02am •

Just as different writers and artists have had different views of what batman and joker should be , Nolan, Shumaker and Burtan had different views, and just as the comic many are good, many suck,... Burton is a genious and his Batman was awesome, and noan is amazing and his gritty Batman is the best to date, so i imagion the same will be siad of the Joker once both are able to be compared... as for Shumaker... well.... uh.... well.... BAT NIPPLES?

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Jack Nicholson Talks About Nolan's JOKER

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