The Dark Knight Sean Penn WAS up for The Joker; more Joker info

[Maxwell Smart]

from BOF(batman-on-film.com/batmovienews.html):

Penn Declined and Joker Inspirations
Author: Jett
Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 5:43 AM CENTRAL TIME: “Our Best Source” is back with some interesting revelations:


“You might want to dig up one of my ‘scoops’ for you from a long time ago -- just after Goyer leaked that The Joker would be in the sequel.


If you recall, I let you know that they would be going back to The Joker's first ever appearance, in BATMAN #1 1940, as the plot-line for the sequel. They will also be mixing in some plot threads from The Joker's celebrated ‘comeback’ tale from the 1970s, ‘The Joker's Five-Way Revenge.’


You may also be interested to know that Sean Penn was their first choice for Joker, and passed.


Doing an article search on one-time candidate, Aussie Lachy Hulme, I also found an old article in an Australian newspaper comparing him to Sean Penn in terms of looks and acting style. Small world, eh?”


He's right on with that Joker inspiration info. It's somewhere in the archives and I'll dig through them later and find his blurb.

 

[The Sage]

Eh...grain of salt I will take this.

 

["V"]

Hmmm more 'spin' from Jett me thinks.

Joker's Five Way Revenge is a great story though if not a bit anti-climatic.

 

[The Shape]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Milkman95]

Penn would have been superb, but I can see him declining if this is true.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

Eh...grain of salt I will take this.

This statement makes no sense. There's nothing suspicious in this report, and it comes from Jett.

 

[Mr. Vice]

Penn would've been a good choice. But Ledger's alright with me.

 

[Stringer]

A younger Penn wouldve been great but he's too old now. What was "Jokers Five Way Revenge" about?

 

[Maxwell Smart]

Hmm, suddenly everyone is saying Penn would have been a good choice, but I recall that when he was initially rumored everyone was saying he'd be a horrible choice...

 

[The Sage]

This statement makes no sense. There's nothing suspicious in this report, and it comes from Jett.

That's exactly why I'm taking it with a grain of salt. The inspirations part sounds okay (particularly since Nolan himself said he was gonna use Joker's first appearance) but the Sean Penn rumor I'm doubtful about.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

What was "Jokers Five Way Revenge" about?

No clue.

 

[The Sage]

A younger Penn wouldve been great but he's too old now. What was "Jokers Five Way Revenge" about?

Joker getting revenge against former members of his gang.

 

["V"]

A younger Penn wouldve been great but he's too old now. What was "Jokers Five Way Revenge" about?

Not read it for a while so i'm a bit sketchy, but the core concept is that Joker is going around killing five people who were responsible for betraying him - His old partners etc.

Batman picks up his trail after the first murder and follows him across Gotham but always seems one step behind....

It's in the Joker anthology book - Great read.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

That's exactly why I'm taking it with a grain of salt. The inspirations part sounds okay (particularly since Nolan himself said he was gonna use Joker's first appearance) but the Sean Penn rumor I'm doubtful about.

No. Its not. Sean Penn is an EXTREMELY talented actor, and looks the part. There's nothing suspicious about him having been up for the role. If the him turning it down part is suspicious to you, I think thats not such a well founded suspicion either. Penn is known for not being a ****e, and as much as we love Batman, you've got to admit, its a very commercial film. I can see him turning it down.

 

[ultimatefan]

Hmm, suddenly everyone is saying Penn would have been a good choice, but I recall that when he was initially rumored everyone was saying he'd be a horrible choice...

Don´t expect coherence from fanboys... They rarely really know what they want...

Anyway, i didn´t read five-way revenge, can anyone describe it to me?

 

[Milkman95]

Hmm, suddenly everyone is saying Penn would have been a good choice, but I recall that when he was initially rumored everyone was saying he'd be a horrible choice...

Well, that wasn't me - I actually liked Penn being rumored when it first came out.

 

[ultimatefan]

No. Its not. Sean Penn is an EXTREMELY talented actor, and looks the part. There's nothing suspicious about him having been up for the role. If the him turning it down part is suspicious to you, I think thats not such a well founded suspicion either. Penn is known for not being a ****e, and as much as we love Batman, you've got to admit, its a very commercial film. I can see him turning it down.

No, it´s not really a suspicious report. Penn was reported several times as a potential Joker, and in many ways, yeah, he fits the role.

I don´t think he turned it down for "not being a ****e". I don´t think Bale is a ****e either, and he´s into Batman. Penn is also known for being a big time a-hole, so that could explain it...

 

[Yurka]

thats interesting

 

[The Sage]

No. Its not. Sean Penn is an EXTREMELY talented actor, and looks the part. There's nothing suspicious about him having been up for the role. If the him turning it down part is suspicious to you, I think thats not such a well founded suspicion either. Penn is known for not being a ****e, and as much as we love Batman, you've got to admit, its a very commercial film. I can see him turning it down.

Oh there's no doubt about Penn's ability. I just doubt Jett's word that he was up for the role or not. Now if it was Latino Review who brought it up, I'd be more likely to believe it.

 

[Cinemaman]

Yes, Penn would be good as Joker, but I think Ledger is better choice.

 

[ultimatefan]

Joker getting revenge against former members of his gang.

Hmmm, that leads towards the notion that Joker was already a criminal when he was transformed, which is not what happens in The Killing Joke... Wonder if Nolan will mix the origins, where Joker is a criminal but also has a family.

 

[ultimatefan]

Oh there's no doubt about Penn's ability. I just doubt Jett's word that he was up for the role or not. Now if it was Latino Review who brought it up, I'd be more likely to believe it.

Don´t be too hard on Jett, he´s got a lot of things right, and he´s clear as to whether something is rumor or not.

LR said they were going to have a script review real soon, and where is it?

 

[The Sage]

Don´t expect coherence from fanboys... They rarely really know what they want...

Anyway, i didn´t read five-way revenge, can anyone describe it to me?

Joker getting revenge against former members of his gang.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

I don´t think he turned it down for "not being a ****e". I don´t think Bale is a ****e either, and he´s into Batman. Penn is also known for being a big time a-hole, so that could explain it...

Penn's not an ******* necessarily, he just takes himself very serious as an actor, and I think that puts some people off.

And what I meant is that Penn doesn't do summer blockbuster type movies, not these days anyway.

 

[The Sage]

Hmmm, that leads towards the notion that Joker was already a criminal when he was transformed, which is not what happens in The Killing Joke... Wonder if Nolan will mix the origins, where Joker is a criminal but also has a family.

That'd be interesting. Though I think the more mysterious, the better.

Don´t be too hard on Jett, he´s got a lot of things right, and he´s clear as to whether something is rumor or not.

I find Jett to be more accurate in story details and inspirational elements than casting. I still remember the "WWE Superstar Edge as Egghead" post.