The Dark Knight: Heath Ledger potential Oscar nomination?

Simon Brew

The film isn't even out yet, but there's still Oscar buzz surrounding The Dark Knight...

It’s early to talk about it, given that the Academy Awards are still well over half a year away, but the early ecstatic reviews that The Dark Knight is garnering for itself are focusing a lot on the performance given by Heath Ledger in his last full film role.

Ledger’s take on The Joker is, apparently, one that not only overpowers Jack Nicholson’s previous performance in Tim Burton’s original Batman, but is already generating early Oscar talk. Now we’ve not seen the film, so can’t comment on this, but in the early footage and numerous trailers, Ledger seems magnetic.

While there’s inevitably emotional reasons why Ledger could be recognised, many of those who have managed to see the film (and how the hell do we get a ticket to one of those screenings?!) reckon there’s a legitimate and strong chance that at the very least, Heath Ledger will garner a posthumous Best Supporting Actor nomination. That in itself would be a remarkable feat for a comic book film. Don't bet against it...

The Dark Knight is out in the UK towards the end of July.