In the world of superheroes, no villain is as feared as the Joker. The Batman character has had a tight grip on Gotham City for decades now. From print to screen, DC Comics has brought the Joker to life countless times, but one take on the Joker is timeless. Heath Ledger’s award-winning performance as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy remains untouchable. But according to a new report, the character’s journey did not end on film like we thought.
The report comes from Reddit in the most unlikely of places. Not long ago, a user by the name of TFA_Screamy_008 took to social media to share alleged footage of The Dark Knight‘s canceled video game. It was there that fans got a new look at Ledger’s Joker, and it seems the villain would have had quite the journey to show if this scrapped game had come to light.
The Joker’s Journey Didn’t End in Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy
According to the alleged leak, the canceled Dark Knight title would have taken place after Nolan’s trilogy wrapped as Bruce Wayne returned to Gotham. A rough storyboard for the game was shared on Reddit (via Vimeo), and it is there that fans reunite with the Joker. In the video, the Joker is shown modeled after Ledger’s iconic performance, and he is firmly locked in Arkham Asylum. In one scene, the villain is shown watching Batman traverse Gotham’s skyline from his cell, but the Joker seems none too upset about his incarceration.
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As the storyboard progresses, additional glimpses of the Joker are shown. One scene shows the Joker in his cell confined by leg braces before another finds the villain in action. Facing off against Batman, the Joker is seen trying to pin a murder on the hero as he stabs a civilian to death with Batman’s own Batarang. Unhinged and eager to shed blood, the Joker’s actions in this newly surfaced storyboard are intense, and they prove The Dark Knight villain cannot be tamed.
Batman: The Dark Knight’s Cancellation Still Hurts
If you are wondering what in the world this Dark Knight sequel is all about, the story is a tragic one. Developed by Pandemic Studios, Batman: The Dark Knight began production in September 2006 to drop alongside Nolan’s acclaimed trilogy. The game, which was handled by EA, was meant to be an action-stealth title for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The open-world title would have given fans the chance to explore Nolan’s Gotham on the ground as Batman, but shortly after production on the game began, unrest began.
According to reports, Pandemic Studios hit a number of hurdles during production on Batman: The Dark Knight. At first, the game was expected to be done in a linear style, but Pandemic Studios decided mid-production to retool the game to better mimic Nolan’s action-heavy films. From there, production limped along due to technical limitations involving the game’s engine. With a December 2008 deadline on hand, EA eventually chose to cancel the game entirely when it became clear The Dark Knight title would not be ready in time for launch. And in the fallout of this blow, EA went on to surrender its license for the Batman IP, reverting the rights to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Of course, the latter company went on to release the adored Batman: Arkham franchise, so all’s well that ends well.
While Batman: The Dark Knight never came to fruition, this latest leak about the game confirms the Joker’s tenure in Gotham did not end when Nolan completed his trilogy. Ledger’s Joker is a rare breed, and the villain is far too demented to be contained. There is little doubt his journey in Gotham was just beginning under Ledger’s watch, and this alleged update simply confirms that suspicion.
