It's official: Heath Ledger to play The Joker in next Batman film

Posted Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 7:03 AM Central

by Tim Briscoe

It has been speculated for weeks. Rumors were flying at the recent Comic-Con event that Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger was to don the make-up of The Joker.

They are rumors no more. Warner Bros. has confirmed that Ledger will play The Joker in director Christopher Nolan's next Batman film. Furthermore, it was announced that the next film will be titled The Dark Knight -- something that's sure to please all the hardcore fanboys out there.

Christian Bale will once again wear the black cape and tall, pointing ears of Batman. The same ones that he resuscitated with last year's Batman Begins. The film grossed $205 million domestically.

Nolan's brother Jonathan is set to write the new script and production will begin early next year. It should arrive in theaters in May or June of 2008.