The Dark Knight WB to go with new marketing plan

[strikezone89]

Hmmm...really don't want to burst your bubble here, but Nolan has already said that this is Harvey's story. We know that when Joker was being cast, many actors backed off when they heard how little screen time The Joker would have in comparison with Nicholson's.

Also, it was already planned that marketing would shift from The Joker to Dent. Joker was first so audiences would have more time to get used to Heath's portrayal of him. Also, just because Ledger is dead doesn't mean his efforts on the film are worth more than anyone else.

Also, focusing on one character so much just takes them out of the movie and spoils the actors performance in the movie. Audiences tire of character overkill very quickly and it would be a shame to see Heath's performance not get the attention it deserves because audiences are already tired of this new Joker.

wow.. someone in here isn't stupid.

very good points

 

[Art Damage]

We know that when Joker was being cast, many actors backed off when they heard how little screen time The Joker would have in comparison with Nicholson's.

Where did you hear that?

 

[jtfaria]

You wanna blame anyone for that piece of dialouge, blame Goyer and Nolan...


and its a damn shame we may not see any Joker related products beyond the posters.

Yes, we need some fine new Joker products.

 

[GoogleMe94]

this isnt going to be "dents film". nolan just sais that harvey is the backbone of the film, not the main event. the main event is the JOKER!

 

[Carnotaur3]

this isnt going to be "dents film". nolan just sais that harvey is the backbone of the film, not the main event. the main event is the JOKER!

Correct!

I guess people don't see that second billing of Heath Ledger and understand he shares almost equal time. That's what main antagonists do.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

katie holmes is not hot. she's somewhat decent, but I hated how she was soo dumb in batman begins. "It's not what underneath but what you do that defines you"....She's just straight up annoying.

Blame the writers from BB, and the dialogue does not make her less hot.

Not again with the Maggie vs Katie thing...

t:

 

[3 Dev Adam]

Joey's acting abilities are limited to play "Dumb Bimbo #9" on some B-teen flix. Give her some meaty and serious role, as in Begins, and the facade crumbles.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Does anyone know if theaters are being asked to take down Joker posters now because of Ledger's death? The WSS poster and the one with Joker's back to us holding a knife.

It's a shame because it looks like we were going to get some of the best marketing for a film surrounded by the Joker and that's probably out the window now.

 

[Lead_Tester]

wow.. someone in here isn't stupid.

very good points

LOL

Cool sarcasm ! ! !

 

[Lead_Tester]

Does anyone know if theaters are being asked to take down Joker posters now because of Ledger's death? The WSS poster and the one with Joker's back to us holding a knife.

It's a shame because it looks like we were going to get some of the best marketing for a film surrounded by the Joker and that's probably out the window now.

No, I guess.

I was in the teather yesterday and the posters were still there.


I really hope Not.

 

[JonnyQ]

Sorry but I must agree with the people who say they should market this the same way. It would be a fitting tribute in my opinion with it being his last role, and maybe (after we see it anyway) his best ever.
I think the marketing plan gives him the respect he so richly deserves, it seems he gave so much to the role, sleepless nights etc.

 

[Lead_Tester]

Sorry but I must agree with the people who say they should market this the same way. It would be a fitting tribute in my opinion with it being his last role, and maybe (after we see it anyway) his best ever.
I think the marketing plan gives him the respect he so richly deserves, it seems he gave so much to the role, sleepless nights etc.

I Agree with you

 

[3 Dev Adam]

Me 2

 

[Redd]

Sorry but I must agree with the people who say they should market this the same way. It would be a fitting tribute in my opinion with it being his last role, and maybe (after we see it anyway) his best ever.
I think the marketing plan gives him the respect he so richly deserves, it seems he gave so much to the role, sleepless nights etc.

I agree as well

 

[The Senator]

Sorry but I must agree with the people who say they should market this the same way. It would be a fitting tribute in my opinion with it being his last role, and maybe (after we see it anyway) his best ever.
I think the marketing plan gives him the respect he so richly deserves, it seems he gave so much to the role, sleepless nights etc.

I agree as well. But I understand forgoing marketing operations for a few weeks, to let the aftermath of Heath's death fade out of the limelight. I don't know what WB is planning, but I think they can afford to suspend the viral campaign a few weeks--maybe even over a month. After all, this movie isn't going to be out until July anyway... it's not extremely important to market this in mid-February, and it's entirely appropriate given the situation.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Nice article here:

He Who Laughed Last: Selling The Joker

Posted by Nomad on Friday, February 01, 2008

In the face of shocking news on the death of Heath Ledger, we take a look at how Warner Brothers and the public at large are now receiving a man called The Joker...

Batman: The Dark Knight is the long anticipated sequel to Batman Begins, released in 2005. A meager two years ago but for die hard Bat-Fans, it seems like a lifetime, especially when the first film ended with a major teaser in the Joker mention. This reveal was so powerful, it was practically a cliffhanger.

Now we are still six months off from the July 18th scheduled release date and sadly, there has been a death in the family. Heath Ledger is found dead in his New York apartment with prescription drugs scattered around him. Instantly, news agencies began probing the life of this loving father, hoping to dig up some corpses in his various closets. The pills surrounding him, no doubt, speak of suicide. We at Action-figure would like to think it was an accident, as he never seemed selfish and had so much to live for….but that doesn’t make for thrilling news, so the “reporters” will continue their probing, seemingly only finding the devastated faces of the people who loved him as they pass.

As blogs and TV shows run out of sensational speculation, we are left with a building rumor, not without some merit. Ledger’s last role would be as The Joker, a deeply disturbing character as iconic as Batman himself in pop culture history. The Joker is a killer without morals, driven by his insanity and bolstered by a genius level intellect to commit acts a normal person would never even dream in their most horrible nightmares. Some actors, in their process, absorb a character fully to “become” them for a time to heighten reality and answer any questions that may come up. How might the character respond to this situation…how would he sound? Ledger’s Batman co-stars have all been quoted as saying his portrayal as The Joker is the real show stopper, describing Ledger as “extraordinary” and “chilling”. Hollywood insiders have seen close to 10 minutes of footage and say Ledger’s Joker is “very menacing and scary.” At the end of the day, how do you divest yourself of so much darkness? This is the new question being asked, with little story left to write. Could taking on a role so dark and twisted send a man into such a state of being that it is painful to continue living? Could The Joker kill his portrayer?

I could see the sensational headlines now in bold 2 inch high print. THE JOKER DID IT! While it is an interesting thought and, no doubt, would make an excellent movie script, the idea is a bit comical. The same actors who utilize this process of absorbing a character also have a method of shedding it at shooting’s end. A sort of detoxification, if you will. Knowing that, it is incredibly hard to believe a man who loved his child and the work he is in so completely would fall victim to an all encompassing depression that would drive him to end his life. We’d like to believe Ledger was stronger than that. This may be our conclusion, but Warner Brothers has heard these rumors as well and is now in a bit of a panic.

At the recent UK Toyfair, all Joker imagery was pulled from the floor, including product from companies like DC Direct, leaving little name tags behind announcing said product, sitting in front of empty shelving (AS SEEN HERE). That is what we would call “putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole”, since out in the world, the Dark Knight ad campaign is in full swing with teaser posters starring Ledger’s Joker slated to dominate until March. The issue has also become one of sensitivity. A man has died and soon, the global market place will be flooded with action figures, statues, posters, t shirts and so on, all with that man’s face on it. Reports came in that Warner had been considering re-shooting all of Ledger’s scenes (which we’ve learned has been nixed). So the question remains, with an army of companies set to launch product based on Batman: The Dark Knight, how do you diminish the importance of the film’s main villain?

I’d had this very discussion in a small screening house in New York with managing editor of Fangoria magazine, Mike Gingold. He wondered how Warner, and to a larger degree, companies with licenses would respond to Heath Ledger’s death. I said that some companies, who may not already be in production, might cut The Joker out of their product line. The rest will carry on. The fact of the matter is, Batman is not a cheap license. It never has been and never will be. Companies are paying top dollar to merchandise this film and they will move forward with their plans in the face of such sad developments. Does this seem like a cold stance to you? Perhaps, if you are extremely sensitive. The simple fact is Batman: The Dark Knight is Heath Ledger’s last film. Do we sweep this performance under the proverbial rug or do we honor the man by celebrating what is said to be an outstanding performance? I, for one, feel the latter. This is the Batman film we’ve been buzzing across the internet about. Though Ledger’s passing is profoundly sad, I’d rather clap at the end of the film, honoring the man, than leave with a little dark cloud hanging over my head… and I’m positive Ledger wouldn't want it any other way. This is set to be an amazing film. Let’s continue to enjoy its arrival and celebrate a man and his achievements at the same time.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Heath Ledger…and July can’t get here fast enough for me.



Link

 

[nedflanders]

If they change anything they're fools.

It's good to respect the actor and the man. From what I've read however he was a cool guy. He wasn't some prissy actor and I'd expect if he had ever been asked what the WB should do following circumstances like these he'd say go ahead with everything as planned.

Per this being more Dent than Joker I believe what they're referring to is actual character development. Harvey changes and is a story. The Joker is a force behind the change so there's no delving into him as a person. He drives the movie rather than being part of the ride.

I know a girl who is a publicist for Warner and I've been respectful of her usual "I can't comment" job restrictions but I'm tempted to tap her on the shoulder on this one. I know the day of the whole ordeal she was wisked off for an emergency meeting in LA so they've definitely pulled out all stops to figure out the best way to continue.

 

[3 Dev Adam]

WB can do what the $#%$% they want with the campaign, the movie will sell by itself.

BUT IF THEY *DARE* TO TINKER WITH THE MOVIE ITSELF, THEN THERE WILL BE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS!!!

 

[StylishHokie21]

Yeah...the whole idea is ridiculous. Changing any of Heath's scenes from the movie is an insult.

 

[byte19]

don't change a thing!! i bet Nolan has a work print done now!

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Yeah...the whole idea is ridiculous. Changing any of Heath's scenes from the movie is an insult.

It sure would be.

 

[doriangray]

Yeah...the whole idea is ridiculous. Changing any of Heath's scenes from the movie is an insult.

Especially to Heath.

 

[Juggernaut33]

Wait a second...do you really believe what that article said about WB willing to reshoot all Heath Ledger's scenes?

Please, tell me you were joking.

 

[3 Dev Adam]

Wait a second...do you really believe what that article said about WB willing to reshoot all Heath Ledger's scenes?

Please, tell me you were joking.

Well, I do believe that the fella who wrote that piece DID believed that, cause what passes as today's "journalism" is just a compilation of net-found BS.

 

[Nivek]

I hate saying this, but Heaths death pretty much cemented TDK as a blockbuster this summer. It was going to be a top grosser, but I now without a doubt believe it will be the film to beat this summer.

As far as reshooting Heaths scenes, um... no. Why the hell would Nolan throw that gold away?