Nicholson was the "top of the list" choice from early on. And it didn't necessarily matter that physically and facially, he wasn't much of a match for The Joker from the comics (too heavy in body; too round in face.) James Woods, Tim Curry, and Ray Liotta were likely better matches.
What Jack Nicholson was in 1989 was -- arguably America's greatest "prestige star actor." Nicholson had tried to maintain a "serious career" from Easy Rider on. He turned down leading roles in The Sting(Redford part), Close Encounters, Superman(Lex Luthor), and many commercial hits. When he tried his first "A" horror movie -- it was The Shining , and it was for Kubrick.
Consequently, the producers of "Batman" (who had hired Jack to play the Devil in The Witches of Eastwick two years prior, another "prestige summer movie") were hellbent for leather to hire Jack Nicholson as their Joker.
And there was this: when Superman came to the screen as an A picture in 1978, Marlon Brando was enticed to give HIS prestige authority to the movie , even though he was only in the movie a short time at the beginning(and yet, top billed.)
In 1988/89, Jack Nicholson was the closest thing to Brando as "the great American prestige actor" and they were DESPERATE to get him to play the Joker accordingly.
CONT
reply
share
ecarle (14979)
5 years ago
CONT
As I recall from the time, Nicholson kept being mentioned as "the top candidate" but never committed, and so the producers finally announced that Robin Williams(at the time, a major star himself) for the role. THAT evidently set a fire under Jack and -- with certain guarantees of salary, points and toy royalties -- Jack signed on.
As far as I was concerned, the change from Robin Williams as the Joker to Jack Nicholson as the Joker was...monumental. A major, established prestige star of two decades power was finally going to do "a summer movie."
Nicholson was not the only choice for the Joker, but he was the best choice for "Hollywood history." And a much more bankable star than James Woods or Tim Curry.
And Hollywood History WAS served: Marlon Brando anchored Superman. Jack Nicholson anchored Batman. Thus were both famous comic characters given the imprimatur of Hollywood legends in these films.
reply
share