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Bettany to play The Joker, or will it be Penn?

Potential names for The Joker continue to mount as Paul Bettany and Sean Penn find themselves in the running

Jun 24 2005

With 'Batman Begins' barely out at cinemas, the rumour mill continues to work overtime on who will take up Jack Nicholson's mantle and play The Joker in the next Bat-movie.

Brit actor Paul Bettany and Sean Penn are the latest to be added to a list of names that already boasts Mark Hamill, Crispin Glover and Lachy Hulme.

According to reporting in celebrity gossip mag 'Now' Christian Bale let slip to a journalist that 'Batman Begins' director Christopher Nolan is courting Penn for the part but that the actor is reluctant to take on pal Nicholson's former role.

Bettany's name has been implicated by a studio insider who told one Batman fansite that the lauded star of 'Master and Commander' was definitely in the running.

The actor, who is married to Jennifer Connelly, is also to be reunited with 'A Beautiful Mind' director Ron Howard for next year's sure-fire blockbuster 'The Da Vinci Code'.

In the meantime don't be surprised if rumours on the identity of the new Joker ends up overtaking hearsay on the next James Bond.

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User comments on this story

  • kristoffer hernandez said...
    ngelus is priceless and if you need more evidence just watch episode 17 of season one and he gives a joker like laugh. Posted on Jun 06 2009 06:21
    Report as inappropriate
  • frazza said...
    lol so much for thinking heath ledger culdnt play joker lol jst shows sum people thnk they no it all Posted on Oct 23 2008 21:26
    Report as inappropriate
  • lovelace said...
    Mark Hamill or Heath Ledger could never play Joker.... they need to go with Crispin Glover, or possibly Adrian Brodey... he might even be to big of a name for Joker... Posted on Apr 11 2007 00:23
    Report as inappropriate
  • beau said...
    HEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the joker is my fave character in the dc universe it should be either bettany mark hamil that guy who played the thin man in charlies angels or adrian brody king kong Posted on Apr 15 2006 03:05
    Report as inappropriate
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