I know, you’re gagging at the mere thought of it, because you’re picturing the worst-case scenario of Williams mugging it up even worse than Nicholson did when he had the role. That was my reaction, too…but then I read this interview, and, to my surprise, I find I’m now not quite as panicked as I once was. It turns out that Williams is actually a diehard fan of comic books and graphic novels…and he’s actually read the more recent interpretations of the Joker. Based on some of these statements, I have a suspicion that his take on the character would probably find him going from the over-the-top shenanigans that you would expect…and, then, just as you’re thinking, “Oh, Christ, this is my worst nightmare,” out of nowhere, he’d slit someone’s throat, the grin would disappear, and as the blood spurts everwhere, he’s sneering, “How’s that for a punchline?”
Read this, then click on the above link for the whole interview:
We asked Williams whether he saw The Joker as more over-the-top or dark.
“You can go both,” Williams said. “As in madness, there’s a lot of ways to go. I think you can really explore how bright and how nasty-funny he is, just like I guess what Kevin [Spacey] did with Lex Luthor, made him really funny, but yet still damaged… As evil is, accessible and yet still horrific. Jump back and forth all the time. I’m kidding… Kidding!”
On the second kidding, Williams gave me a soft poke in the throat with two fingers. Amusing, but a bit surprising.
“See there it is,” says Williams. “I saw your eyes go f**k off!”
