Slate looks at the challenges Warner Bros. could be facing in a variety of areas related to The Dark Knight after Heath Ledger’s death, including post-production work, licensing and marketing the film:
Warner plans to release the movie as planned in July. Usually, after filming is completed, actors do looping sessions—that is, they record and perfect their lines in a studio. It would be unusual for Nolan to have all the sound that he wants at this early stage but a producer—not associated with this project—tells us that it’s not impossible. “I can’t think of a movie where there were no looped lines whatsoever, but I can think of movies where a main character was not looped,” he says.
On a big-budget franchise picture like The Dark Knight, he adds, looping would be the norm. “When you are doing a movie like Batman, as opposed to The Savages, you loop,” he explains. “You are a perfectionist because you have the money to do it and the studio gives you whatever you want. You go through 17 takes of Heath Ledger saying, ‘I’m the Joker,’ and if it isn’t just right, you loop it.”
The article mentions the possibility of using a different voice actor if they need one for the film, as well as for a planned theme park attraction. And from a marketing standpoint, they say the plan was to eventually move from the Joker-centric campaign we’ve seen over the last few months to one that focuses on Two-Face.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I thought I read in a few places that all of Ledger’s post work was finished. Didn’t even Nolan come out and say that in a press release somewhere? With his busy schedule I’d think they would have gotten everything they needed from Ledger before he was off to working on another film (Terry Gilliam’s film I believe) and built days for his ADR into his shooting schedule. That’s not at all out of the realm of possibility.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:13 pm
ADR is a post production process. It’s done during editing. I don’t think it can be done early any more than you can paint a house while you’re still cutting the lumber to build it with.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 am
I could still swear I read that all of Ledger’s post work was completed. AICN had it shortly after the reports of his death and then I think I saw a press release from Warner Bros. and Nolan saying the same thing but I could be mistaken there.
Still, this does put a slight wrench in their marketing plans. Yeah they may have been planning to shift to a more Two-Face-centric campaign but when it comes to talk shows and interviews who do you think is a bigger draw… Ledger or Eckert? Ledger clearly due to the “hunk” factor. (even though I think Eckert gives better interviews)
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
“(even though I think Eckert gives better interviews)”
That’s pretty much a given at this point.