from The News in Australia
Heath Ledger award is no jokeMarch 12, 2008 02:54am
Heath Ledger
Really early Oscar buzz ... Heath Ledger.
HOLLYWOOD star Heath Ledger's immediate family might be cheered to know that there is some good news doing the rounds about their late son.
The word out of Tinseltown that the actor is being considered for a posthumous Oscar for his as-yet-unseen work as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Really early buzz by critics for next year's awards has praised the performance, which he filmed last year.
And the flick's director Christopher Nolan strongly agrees he deserves one for his role. "It's stunning, it's iconic. It's going to just blow people away," he said of Ledger's performance.
Meanwhile, Ledger will appear in the film he was shooting before his death, director Terry Gilliam has revealed.
The eccentric filmmaker confirmed the Brokeback Mountain star - who tragically died from an accidental drugs overdose in January - makes the final cut of his movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
Filming on the project was halted after Heath was found dead in his New York apartment. Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell will appear as Heath's character Tony, as he travels between realms in the fantasy adventure.
Terry said: "We want the film to touch people's hearts and souls as Heath was able to do.
"I am grateful to Johnny, Colin and Jude for coming on board and to everyone else who has made it possible for us to finish the film. I am delighted that Heath's brilliant performance can be shared with the world."
Terry added that production had now resumed in Vancouver, Canada, "with the blessing and support of Heath Ledger's family".
It had been suggested that Heath's role would be completed using CGI (computer generated imagery), which is the process used to complete Gladiator when screen legend Oliver Reed died during shooting.
Producers also said other allowances had been made to allow Jude, Johnny and Colin to take over Heath's part.
A statement read: "Since the format of the story allows for the preservation of his entire performance, at no point will Heath's work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology.
"Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing."
It is thought the movie will be released early next year.
- with BANG Showbiz
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/printstory/0,25585,23361048-10388,00.html