Newsarama wrote:According to multiple sources reporting to Newsarama, including Warner Bros. itself, the next villain to face Batman in the revived film franchise will be the Joker, and he’ll be played by Heath Ledger, proving many early reports of the actor picking up the role true. Assumedly, the sequel will re-tell the origin of the Joker, although which origin will surely be a topic of speculation.
Batman Begin director Christopher Nolan will return to direct the sequel which will simply be called The Dark Knight. According to earlier reports, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman signed multiple picture contracts and will be returning for The Dark Knight as well as a possible third Bat-movie. Morgan Freeman and Katie Holmes are expected to return to their roles as well, although tabloid scuttlebutt has had Holmes retiring from film work, or not returning to Batman at least.
Screenwriter David Goyer is expected to return as well, and has reportedly already written some 80 pages towards the sequel.
A press release officially announcing Ledger and the title is expected tomorrow morning.
Update 08/01/06: According to Variety, production on The Dark Knight will begin next year, for presumably a summer 2008 release, putting it in competition with Iron Man, and the next James Bond movie (both of which have already claimed teh first weekend fo May as their release dates).
Additionally, the film will be written by Nolan's brother, Jonah, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan will produce.
