Heath Ledger's final film sounds as though it will be filled in with Computer Imaging, his final role on the silver screen might not end, as 'The Joker.'
As an update to Heath Ledger's Legacy, something new and interesting is in the works. Fans of Heath Ledger maybe pleased to know, the final farewell to the film ledgend, might not end with the closing credits on the silver screen with Batman. As a follow-up to my first article about the world's shocking news of losing Heath Ledger, and what was being done with Heath's current film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was up in the air, sadly it was determined that Heath's magic would never make it to the silver screen. However, there is talk of the show going on, in Heath's honor.
Heath Ledger's legacy could go beyond Batman, he just might make it onscreen to his next film, the Faustian Fantasy, of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus which was scheduled for 2009, and running at a $30 million dollar film, which was also the last film Heath who was in the in the midst of shooting prior to his death. The filming of the movie was in progress, and a lot of footage had been shot.. even to go as far to say the film was half finished.
After Heath's visit with his family in Australia over Christmas, he was off to London, and shot the first third of the film and filming was finished the weekend before his death. They were scheduled to continue shooting at a Vancouver location, for 40 days, (with 100 crew members) and with the shocking news came to light, the production was halted, and now sits in what is called a force majeure. (is a clause which enables producers to terminate contracts due to extraordinary circumstances).
Now the Director, Terry Gilliam, sitting with a broken heart from the shocking loss of Heath, has a dilemma, on what to do with the film. He reportedly doesn't wish to recast Heath, scrap the film stock and start over, and shooting around him would be difficult as Heath played a major roll in the film. Heath made a great impact on the film, and it's been rumoured the funding was easily come by, due to Heath's role. Heath also worked hard as an actor, and apparently the Director wants the world to see his appreciation for Heath's final performance, as he figures out the best way to dedicate his newest film to Heath Ledger.
What was Heath's ultimate role, in his final film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?
The fantasy film's Terry Gilliam is famous for, continues on with a magical journey. Heath played the character, Tony, a mysterious new member of a magician's troupe, set in the modern day. Christopher Plummer, playing aside Heath, plays Doctor Parnassus, who is 1,000 years old, with extraordinary magical powers, and a ‘real' magic mirror. Doctor Parnassus, due to the fact that he made a deal with the devil a long time ago, received magical powers in exchange for his teenaged daughter's soul. It is set during the time the Devil comes to collect, and Parnassus (Plummer), along with Tony (Heath) take a trip inside the mirror seeking to save the girl, (Lily Cole).
Actor Christopher Plummer, who plays Doctor Parnassus, had apparently stated to People Mag, that "Terry's (The Director) throwing himself into the job of trying to salvage the picture. He's terribly saddened by what happened, and is trying to work out how to continue. He wants to dedicate it to Heath."
"Fortunately because the film deals with magic, there is a way of turning Heath into other people, and then use stills and other CGI, (computer generated imagery)."
It has been rumored that Terry Gilliam is considering to ask Johnny Depp to take over that role, after Heath jumps through the mirror window, and Johnny would take it from there. That's a rumor that started with the tabloid Newspaper the Star in London, and it's blasted all over the net as a fact. However, I suspect that rumor is news to Johnny Depp, as well as Terry Gilliam. There have been no confirmed reports, only speculation, and in the weeks to follow, we'll know more about who will continue on as Heath's character Tony's new body. (Personally, although I love, love, love, Johnny Depp, and he is a master at fantasy, Jack Nicolson would be an interesting choice, now wouldn't he, that would give the film a synical twist, unexpected, and change the tone, so that the character could be explored into a new phase, not trying to match or surpass what Heath created.)
Co-Actor Plummer, with Heath, also added that Heath was very ill during their filming in London. He stated, "We all caught colds because we were shooting on horrible damp nights. But Heath's went on, and I don't think he dealt with it immediately, even when he was taking antibiotics. I think what he had was a walking pneumonia." He also added, "We had to shoot every second we were out there, there was hardly anytime to get warm. He was saying all the time, damn it I can't sleep, and he was taking all these pills to help him."
The New Batman Film, in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, is being polished up for it's release on July 25th 008, with Warner Bros. creating alterations to their marketing strategy which originally revolved around the Joker, in respect to the passing of the Heath Ledger, who played opposite Christian Bale's Batman.
The images from Heath's character of the joker, is so unlike any character he's ever played before. During interviews with Heath, he had expressed that he had to reach down deep in his soul to find the qualities that would suit the Joker, and the Joker in himself is far from Heath's own jovial nature. Heath had to rediscover the Joker, and spent a lot of time preparing for his role, including a month of solitude in creating the walk, and the talk of the new Joker. He had revamped the character of the Joker, and made it his own, by researching extensively, and searching for that angle that would frighten the audience. Heath had reportedly described the character as psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy.
With the film of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus still in the works, it is interesting that Heath's final legacy is growing beyond the final image of him being a Dark Knight. Although playing the role of the Dark Knight has been built up to be one of his best performances, but hopefully we also will continue on to see Heath Ledger on the silver screen one more time, in 2009, playing a fantasy magician, in what hopefully will be a remarkable film to remember.
In Fond Memory of Heath Ledger
Peace and Love 
Written by: Sacreeta
