'The Dark Knight' returns

Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker in the forthcoming 'Batman Begins' sequel.

Aug  1 2006

Heath Ledger has signed up to play Batman's greatest foe, The Joker, in blockbuster sequel 'The Dark Night'.

The 'Brokeback Mountain' star will have his work cut out topping Jack Nicholson's grandstanding performance as the villainous japester in Tim Burton's 'Batman', but director Christopher Nolan is confident he can pull it off.

'I'm excited to continue the story we started with 'Batman Begins'' said the director. 'Our challenge in casting The Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale's Batman is going to be incredible.'

Nolan's brother Jonathan is currently penning the script, with production set to start early next year for a summer 2008 release.

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