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It’s hard to imagine anyone else but Heath Ledger playing the role of the iconic Joker in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight.But amid Joaquin Phoenix’sJoker: Folie à Deuxbombing at the box office, the actor revealed how he was inches close to changing the DC history that we all adore.
Well, according to Joaquin Phoenix’s interview onTetragrammatonwith Rick Rubin, the Oscar winner revealed how he once spoke with Christopher Nolan about playing the Joker inThe Dark Knight. Perhaps, prior to Heath Ledger’s casting, Phoenix was being eyed to star opposite Christian Bale. However, the actor turned down the role as he “wasn’t ready”.
Joaquin Phoenix Had Almost Replaced Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight
Heath Ledgernot only won the Oscar (posthumously) for his role as the Joker inThe Dark Knightbut also shaped the DC universe with his legendary and irreplaceable performance. But in a shocking twist, prior to Ledger’s casting, Christopher Nolan apparently had a discussion with another Oscar-winning Joker actor for the role.
“Damn bro said ‘It’s horrible'”: Even Fans Think Joaquin Phoenix Told Lady Gaga How Much Joker 2 Sucked While the Movie Was Getting a Standing Ovation
Joaquin Phoenix, who led two DC movies as Arthur Fleck—Joker(2019) andJoker: Folie à Deux(2024), told Rick Rubin how he had once spoken with Christopher Nolan about donning the role ofJoker inThe Dark Knight. Appearing onTetragrammaton, Phoenix sent shockwaves through the fandom by revealing how he could have played the Joker years before.
I remember I talked to Chris Nolan about The Dark Knight and that didn’t happen for whatever reason. I wasn’t ready then. That’s one of those things where it’s like, ‘What is in me that’s not doing this?’ And it’s not about me. There’s something else.
There’s another person who is going to do something… I can’t imagine what it would be if we didn’t have Heath Ledger’s performance in that film, right? I don’t know whether Christopher Nolan was coming to me saying, ‘You’re definitely the person.’
Revealing how he wasn’t ready for the role, Joaquin Phoenix claimed to remember vaguely, how he met withChristopher Nolan. Although the actor claimed to have forgotten the context of the conversation—whether it was about offering him the role or it was about informing him about Heath Ledger’s casting—Phoenix mentioned remembering vividly how he turned down the offer because of his dilemma.
Surprised by the Revelation Netizens are Grateful for How Things Eventually Turned Out
Meanwhile, considering howJoaquin Phoenixhas a long list of critically acclaimed films where he has delivered phenomenal performances addressed by the Oscar committee and has even won an Academy Award for his role inJoker(2019), he might have changed the trajectory of DC for good.
However, based on howJoker: Folie à Deuxhasfailed to meet expectationsset by his 2019 installment, there’s a chance Joaquin Phoenix might have ruinedThe Dark Knightexperience for fans. Similarly, with such mixed reactions, fans shared their opinion on social media about the outcome of Phoenix’s refusal.
Thank God it didn’t happen. I mean, he’s great and I’m an atheist, but thank God.
The best decision ever made!
Thank goodness for that.
Thank God he wasn’t ready!pic.twitter.com/HzEX8i6K5X
Joker 2 proved to us he still isn’t ready 😭😂
we dodged the biggest bullet ever
Both are two VERY different Jokers and are both phenomenal in their own lanes.But for this version, it could only ever be the Great Heath Ledger.
Overall, feeling grateful for how things turned out for Heath Ledger as well as Joaquin Phoenix in the DC universe, fans hailed both actors’ talent. Although Phoenix had the talent to play a version of the Joker that was of a similar level to Ledger’s, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the late actor inThe Dark Knight.
The Dark Knightis currently available to watch on Max.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3216
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
