Adrien Brody recently shared his thoughts on auditioning for the role of the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) directed by Christopher Nolan, a role that ultimately went to Heath Ledger. In an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s podcast, Brody revealed that while he was considered for the part, he knew he wasn’t close to landing it. Despite this, he expressed no regrets, praising Ledger’s iconic performance as “indelible.”
Brody described the audition process, acknowledging that while he felt suited to the role, Ledger’s portrayal was unparalleled. “Heath did such a remarkable job in that movie. It was indelible. Such beautiful work,” Brody said. He also spoke highly of Nolan’s vision for the Batman franchise, noting how Nolan’s profound approach to filmmaking and the character would have made the role a dream for any actor with an “edge.”
The Brutalist star, who recently won his first Golden Globe in January 2025, reflected on the cultural impact of The Dark Knight, calling it a “mind-blowing” piece of cinema that raised the bar for superhero storytelling. He also remarked that Nolan’s work on the film was a revelation to actors and something completely new at the time.
Interestingly, Brody wasn’t the only actor who was in talks for the Joker role. Joaquin Phoenix also revealed in an interview with Variety that he had discussions with Nolan about playing the character but wasn’t ready for the role at the time. Phoenix would eventually take on the role in a different iteration in Joker (2019) and its sequel, both of which received critical acclaim for his performance.
While Brody didn’t land the Joker role, his appreciation for Ledger’s portrayal and Nolan’s innovative work remains evident, as he looks back on what could have been one of the most iconic performances of his career.