The show must go on, at least that’s what you hear and when it does, when it continues to…even though it has to, it somehow seems wrong. When actor Heath Ledger died last week, he stunned fans and fellows alike. But today it’s the pr and marketing teams surrounding his blockbuster movie that find themselves scrambling.
CNN headlines say ‘Ledger’s Death Puts Last Films in a Bind’ and PR Week headlines read “Ledger’s Death Clouds Knights Marketing.’ As CNN says, Ledger was to play the character of the Joker in the Dark Knight, the latest chapter in the Batman saga. The role, which sources say is played to perfection, disturbed Ledger. He called the character a “psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy.”
Early promotions show Ledger’s Joker writing in blood, ‘Why So Serious,’ in a Dark Knight poster — which has been the main focus of the film’s marketing effort. Rumors say there’s a mad scramble to replace the campaign, but to what? How much of the Joker should be promoted? Is it insensitive, it’s such a dark character, should it be glorified, he did an amazing job.
No doubt Ledger’s not the first actor to die while a film has been in production. As CNN recounts, the most famous was James Dean, who died in September 1955 before post production on ‘Giant.‘ He was nominated for an Oscar for that performance. Brandon Lee died during the filming of 1994’s The Crow, prompting director Alex Proyas to use as a stunt double and special effects.
In the end, it all comes down to business. There’s no time for grief, get up, scrape yourself off, and adjust. The show must go on.
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