i read an article today about how heath wanted to sabotage the dark knight film in order to be paid in full with vacation.... yes sorry to report dis but i still think its complete bullshyt r.i.p long live the joker.

A Vanity Fair article decided to take a closer look at Heath Ledger, including the reason for his decision to play The Joker in last year’s "The Dark Knight."

According to Ledger’s agent Steven Alexander and cinematographer/friend Nicola Pecorini, the actor had a pay-or-play deal on "Knight, " which means that he would be compensated no matter how terrible he ends up being. This gave Ledger the freedom to do what he wanted with The Joker.

But the real decision to take the role was because of the film’s unusually long shoot, which would give Ledger an excuse to turn down other offers. And since he was guaranteed to collect a paycheck, Ledger was hoping that his performance would be so "far-out" that he would end up being fired and become the beneficiary of a lengthy, paid vacation.

His agent added that while Ledger wanted to get paid, he didn’t want to be part of the massive blockbuster that "The Dark Knight" turned out to be. "[Ledger] was always hesitant to be in a summer blockbuster, with the dolls and action figures and everything else that comes with one of those movies, " Alexander explained. "He was afraid it would define him and limit his choices."

Source: Vanity Fair

i could see that i mean heath preferred being an actor not a movie star.

He did turn down Spider-Man.

Hmmm...This is odd to me. BTW Vanity Fair is Notorious for misconstruing words or taking comments out of context.

im sorry

he went from gay cowboy to The Joker. id say it opened up his choices.

I shocked as well when Champ told me about it but I’ll agree with Devin on this one...

Sarah Catherine ♥ wrote:
That is strange, I never heard that before.

Heath Ledger was passionate about perfecting the Joker

that’s why the poor man locked himself in a motel room for 6 weeks

and pretty much made himself go nuts with his Joker character before filming.

He kept a "Joker Journal" and worked on the Jokers tics and he never came out of that motel room for 6 weeks. That’s enough to make anyone go crazy and in turn you can really see that on screen which I think makes his character completely amazing!

It was actually for 6 months he locked himself in a motel room to make the character of the Joker come to life just thought I’d throw that out there.......

yo i read the same shyt bak in the day ledger waz on history makin stuff he def his thang .

ok im tired of the roomer that the joker role drove ledger to insanity. its not true. ledger did several interviews and apperiences after filming had ended and he was perfectly fine [ this also kills the rommer that a few sceens were done by a replacement joker because of ledgers death] he died of over dose. no insanity nothing special. he just is like most movie stars that want a good time or mix medications not knowing that it can be deadly.

also the whole "he did it for money and a vacation" is bull shit in several interviews ledger talked about his dedication to this role and studied the joker and spoke to jack nicolson himself about ways to bring something new to the joker. trusting what an agent or anyone except for ledger himself said is stupid because people will do anything to get their lime light even tarnish the name of a late great actor such as ledger.