The Joker Is a ‘Person of Interest’ in ‘The Dark Knight Returns’
TV Guide has exclusively revealed the identity of the man who’ll voice The Joker in the two-part animated adaptation of “The Dark Knight Returns.”
Michael Emerson, who stars as heroic Machine mastermind Mr. Finch in the hit CBS series “Person of Interest” (which has its first season available on Blu-ray today), will bring the Crown Prince of Crime to undoubtedly creepy and charismatic life with his distinctive vocal gifts.
Perhaps not entirely coincidentally, “Person of Interest” was created by Jonathan Nolan, who helped his big brother deliver us a certain superhero franchise that just clocked its second billion-dollar-earning entry. If you need a weekly dose of the trademark Nolan mix of action and morality offered by the Batman films, be sure to tune in for the premiere of the second season on September 27.
The voice work on this is superb . Looking forward to this .
[...] (I originally wrote this for Modern Myth Media.) [...]
Agreed, Adrian. I’m almost tempted just to rent it initially in the hope they’ll eventually release a version with both parts edited together.
He’s certainly great in Person of Interest, and his voice has an intellectual detachment that can go well with the Joker, (see H. Ledger). My question is his quote of how the Joker is always at “11.” Up until his end in Miller’s TDKR, I’d put him at a “4″, tops. He cooly blows smoke at the Endocrine show, as he says, “I’m going to kill everyone in this room.”
“Now that’s darn rude!”
Well said, Stock. From reading Mr. Emerson’s comments, I get the feeling he’s talking about the later moments where he’s full-blown nuts and Batman goes after him for the last time.
I love me some Benjamin Linus
Unfortunately we’ll have to wait until Part 2 to really hear him cut loose. Joker has like 3 scenes in the first half of Dark Knight Returns, and I believe says six words total in the first issue.
This is just awesome!
Since we’re talking about it, I’d really like to see you guys break down Person of Interest in a future podcast!
Sean’s the boss, but I’ll never turn down a great conversation about this excellent series!
STEP 1: Michael Emerson of “Person of Interest” voices the Joker in The Dark Knight Returns.
STEP 2: Jim Caviezel of “Person of Interest” plays Bruce Wayne/Batman in the Batman reboot.
Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
T.J., when I saw “The Count of Monte Cristo,” I hoped against hope that he’d someday be cast as Batman. When Bale got the gig, I hope Caviezel would land Superman someday. Either way, I’d love to see him play one of DC’s big guns on screen. Hollywood would deem him too old for the Batman reboot (which is unfortunate, because he’d be perfect), but Marvel will eventually need a Dr. Strange …
I’d still love to see him as Batman. He was born for it.
Here’s another strange parallel to Bale, maybe something I picked up since I’m a pastor:
Both Christian Bale and Jim Caviezel both played Jesus.
Caviezel’s turn as our Lord & Savior was a little more well-known – “The Passion of the Christ” – but Bale actually also played Jesus in “Mary, Mother of God.” As far as I’m concerned, if you can play the Son of God, you can play the Dark Knight Detective.
Caviezel is great on the show, and in some ways, he is playing a Batman like character, just as Emerson is playing an Alfred like character in their actions and relationship. But I think John’s right, that ship has sailed.
If I had a personal choice for a new Batman, I might be inclined to think of Timothy Olyphant from Justified, although he’s probably getting up there in age, too. Make it an HBO series, instead of some monstrous Hollywood movie and I’m there with bells on.