Early 'Joker' Concept Art For TDK!

Freaky, huh?

It's clear now that Christopher Nolan and the gang were sure from the start with the new, scarred-face look that we now see on The Joker. But wouldya' take a look at the horribly disfigured face on your left? Taken from The Art of The Dark Knight, available in all major bookstores, this is just one of the many pre-Ledger designs that made it to the semi-final stages of the film's designs. And yes, it actually made it that far. Can you imagine what it would have been like if this concept actually made it to the screen? There goes your PG-13 right there and in comes a certified 'R' for Restricted! Also, if this concept made it, I'd say there would have been a major backlash from the fans. Some would have loved it, a huge number would have wished the crew stuck to the more 'clownish' wardrobe. This early concept of The Joker would fit better into a Lionsgate horror flick...he looks more like a zombie than an actual human being.

Remember, in essence, The Joker looks like nothing more than a clown in a purple suit, and what's more fun-loving and innocent than a clown, right? That's the irony of it all. It isn't his appearance that's supposed to frighten us, it's the mental state that he's in; cold, calculating, maniacal, and capable of giving you a psychological mind-f*ck. As they say, 'evil dwells in the mind'.

To see more early designs, click HERE.

Also, if you'd like to see a better shot of The Joker without makeup and in police attire, click HERE. It's a scene from the movie. And seriously, he looks chillingly eerier without the makeup than with it on. I'm happy Nolan made the right choice with his final decision. It isn't about creating a scarier Joker, it's about staying true to the essence from the source material. Physically, in The Dark Knight, The Joker varies a great deal from the comics, but the spirit and essence of the character is the best that has ever been portrayed on screen.