When it comes to Jokers , Joaquin Phoenix might be the late , Heath Ledger might be the most controversial , and Mark Hamill might be the most beloved , but when it comes to the clown prince of crime in his truest chassis , they do n’t know jack … but Jack Nicholson does . In 1989’sBatman , Nicholson brought fans perhaps the most accurate and balanced personation of the Joker ever seen on film .

Burton ’s vision of the Clown Prince of Crime not only blended the saturated panels of the comics , but the dark humour of the original Batman narrative . But , it was Jack Nicholson ’s prowess and   other creative factors that truly displume the case from the Thomas Nelson Page to the screen .

It Was a Return to Form for the Character

Until Nicholson ’s portrayal strike the vainglorious screen , the gravid call the Joker had to a full - screen adaptation was Cesar Romero ’s goofy violet version in the 1966 series .   The ' LX Joker was more of a jolly wicked tricker than an actual threat , which is very different from the original comics where he ’s a serial killer whale with a goof gimmick .

Enter an ambitious Tim Burton with a script that swear more on the beginning stuff than the telly show , and the rest is history .

Jack Nicholson had Final Say on the Makeup

In a behind the scenes have , a long give-and-take on the look of the Joker is break into with child detail , especially how the physical composition and   Nicholson himself bring Joker ’s   familiar and freaky confront to the big covert .

Both the makeup team andJack Nicholsonwanted to revive the elongated side and rictus grin featured in the comics but ultimately did n’t want to take away from the actor ’s raving mad expressions . Ultimately , Nicholson had final say on the makeup ' look . But with a face like that , how could they not include that sinister smile ?

Jack Nicholson Got Top Billing

assembly film about the Caped Crusader , Michael Keaton strangely does n’t receive top billing , but Jack Nicholson did . To be sightly , the Joker does stand out a keen deal more than his iniquity and brooding counterpart , but it ’s a Batman moving picture , not a Joker movie . What collapse ?

This might have been because of the rebound that followed after Keaton was cast , or the fact Jack Nicholson was more well - known at the time . Either way of life , it ’s an interesting feature article .

Joker’s Suits Mirror His Sanity

One minor item that plays an telling part in the film is Jack Napier ’s orient suits . Pay attention to the rest of the mob in the movie ; they ’re all drape in received inglorious , brown , and grey professional suits . Not Jack .

Even before he gets dunk in chemical , he wears a trenchant purplish suit . Solid colors at first , but then the Joker takes over and he start out wearing his Burton - design dress to show off his new colorful flair .

David Bowie Was (Supposedly) Up for the Role

Casting the Joker was a challenge all its own and tons of thespian were up for the office , includingZiggy Stardusthimself , David Bowie . Bowie was so near to clinching the function of the Joker that many DC mirthful book artists started using Bowie as inspiration and model for certain versions of the part .

With the rockstar ’s enliven expressions and other - worldly presence , he would have been perfect for the function . Then again , so would another famous pick .

Robin Williams Was Also Up For The Role

Robin Williams and Gotham City have had a flake of a checked past . At one full point , he was offered the role of the Riddler forBatman Forever(this reportedly fall through whenBurton left productionof the sequel),but he was also one of the prime candidates for the Joker as well .

frankly , this should have been a no - brainer , specially given the actor ’s popularity in the ' XC . With his manic energy and infectious laugh , Williams would have been unforgettable as the clown prince of crime . Controversy arose , though , because Williams felt that he was only name - dropped as leverage so that producers could win over Nicholson to signalize onto the project as soon as potential .

Jack Napier’s Fate is Foreshadowed Early On

Tim Burton has always had an interesting way of storytelling ; it ’s one of his most endearing timbre as a filmmaker . But for a guy rope who make his living throwing subtly of the window , his betoken inBatmanis both quiet and effective .

As Boss   Grissom is giving the order for the job at the chemical plant , Jack Napier is shuffle through his lucky deck and suddenly peer through a hole in the joker posting . Does n’t that face wait a little familiar ? Also , what does a hole in the head normally stand for ?

Jack Napier Can’t Hide His Laughter

Although 2019’sJokerwent full circle with the idea of Joker ’s uncorrectable laugh ( where it ’s explained as a aesculapian circumstance ) , it ’s not too crazy to assume that the fact that the Joker ca n’t stop express joy might have total from Burton ’s vision .

Pay attention when Joker ’s masquerade as Jack Napier again during his museum heist . Even underneath all that war paint ,   Joker ca n’t disguise his infernal chortle for very long . Granted , this could be a side burden of the chemicals or his psychotic personality boil underneath a human mask , but it ’s certainly worth noting .

Jack Nicholson’s Joker Is The Most Referenced Joker Of Them All

Though there might be others that could put up toe - to - toe with Burton ’s version , no other Joker has been more prestigious and referenced in otherBatmanmedia than   Nicholson ’s take .

Even the highly successful vivify series used the identity and origin of Jack Napier as the basis for Mark Hamill ’s illustrious part interpretation . From his wide - brimmed chapeau to his deadly joy buzzer , Burton ’s clown is big businessman and that ’s no ( ahem)Killing Joke .

Jack Nicholson’s Joker Shaped the Character’s Future

Speaking of comics , innovative interpretations of the Joker certainly take   more than a handful of thing from the Burton version than the others .

Tons of runs and comic take the Joker down the twisted road Burton pose him on . Sometimes it ’s funny , sometimes it ’s dark , and sometimes it ’s a bit of both . But whether they survive in the comic , games , or other medium , they can sure enough dance with the devil in the pale Moon .

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