Last year at the Independent Spirit Awards, Aaron Eckhart spilled the beans on Harvey Dent, telling MTV News that the key to his performance was in finding “the tension…the similarities” between Batman and Two-Face. This year, he told us what he found.
“Well, they’re both crime fighters,” he said. “They both care about law and order. They both care about Gotham City. Although they come from different backgrounds, they share certain things. Pausing, he added, “[Things that] I cannot tell you about.”
Anybody who’s ever read a “Batman” comic book knows what some of those things are – admitting them would be a non-spoiler spoiler, akin to saying Harry Potter and Voldemort are both orphans. If you’re familiar at all with the source material, chances are you know this already.
So what could it be in Nolan’s universe that demands secrecy? It would have to be something specific to the movie, right? Something not in any other Batman incarnation. Something like…Assistant District Attorney Rachel Dawes?
Could it be that both men share a love for the spunky brunette?
For his part, Eckhart’s not talking.
“I can’t comment on anything. I’m sorry. You gotta ask, but literally, if I ever want to work in this town again, I cannot say anything to you,” he teased, smiling. “[Chris Nolan] is a good man, but he’s a tough man.”
One thing Eckhart would reveal, however, is that he shares a scene in the film with the Joker. While we endlessly discussed the effectiveness of Ledger’s performance after the first trailer arrived, Eckhart says there can be no debate – Ledger’s work will “blow [you] away.”
“I had a wonderful time working with Heath. I had the chance to watch him shine in this movie,” Eckhart said. “I am glad that I was able to be in the same room and watch him work.”
What do you think? Does our Rachel Dawes theory seem credible? And what of this scene with the Joker? Sound off below.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Well will his scene with the joker be as Harvey Dent or as two-face, i’m betting on it being as harvey.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:04 am
it will definitely be a meeting between Joker and Harvey Dent. he won’t become Two-Face till the next film.
March 4th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I’ve read rumors that the transformation to Two-Face takes place at the end of this film. Who knows if it’s true - but it could be a teaser for the third film the way they did a teaser for the Joker at the end of Batman Begins.
March 4th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Maybe Joker is somehow responsible for the scarring that makes Dent Two-Face?
March 4th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I wouldn’t deny Devastationbob’s theory about Joker possibly making Harvey the infamous Two-Face. It’s an answer worth knowing.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Ummm…Didn’t Eckhart and Holmes also share some “face time” in “Thank You for Smoking”?
March 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Keith, Holmes isn’t playing Rachel Dawes so that’s irrelevant. I agree with the love triangle theory, and maybe Joker tries to scar Harvey so that he can be like Joker
March 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
While Christopher Nolan can do literally anything to this Batman universe, the likely cause of Harvey turning into Two-Face is Salvatore Maroni (played by Eric Roberts) throwing the acid into his face at Maroni’s trial. This would stay close to how it happened in the funnybooks.
March 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
The Joker will be responsible for Harvey’s scarring, thus creating Two-Face. The scene he speaks of that he shares with Heath is this creation of Two-Face, therefore making the scene between Harvey and the Joker, not Two-Face and the Joker.
Aaron Eckhart will only have a quick teaser in this film as Two-Face, and it will be similar to the set up for the Joker given in Batman Begins, only we’ll actually see him(somewhat at least) rather than just seeing his “calling card.”
The third installment will most likely revolve around Two-Face wanting revenge on Batman for not only taking Rachel Dawes from him, but for also failing to stop the Joker. The latter being the reason he ever becomes Two-Face to begin with.
So… to Devastationbob: Yes… the Joker will certainly be responsible. Although Harvey/Two-Face will see it more as being Batman’s doing.
To the first two posters, yes it will definitely be a meeting between Harvey and Joker, but Two-Face will be in this picture, if only for a second or two.
To Jolecore204, the Salvatore theory is solid, though many reports and all of my findings have debunked that theory. Most of which saying that Salvatore is merely a secondary player(compared to the rest at least) and the Joker will be the top player in causing all of Batman’s troubles in this film, pushing him to his limits in many more ways than just one.
RIP Heath.
“When asked, ‘Why Heath Ledger as the Joker?’ Christopher Nolan simply said, ‘Because he’s fearless.’”
No truer statement than that my friends…
March 4th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Nolan told the LATimes early this year The Dark Knight is really Harvey’s story and that the Joker has as much character development as an 8.0 earthquake and hits the movie with as much force.
Eckhart is perfectly cast and Ledger already haunts my dreams. The last Bat was fantastic. This next one looks like it could be even better.
March 4th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
well with the possibility of scarecrows return. I figured that the villains would unite. Maybe Joker would seak a plea bargin to hand Sal Maroni over, This would put Sal on the stands, and Scare Crow being the Chemist that he is… Well you get where I am going.
As for the possibility of seeing Two-Face in the film, I can almost guarantee it. Wasn’t there that Teaser for it months ago, and now there is a Dark Knight licensed figurine for Two-Face.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am
If you look at one point on the trailer, we see Bruce Wayne in a fancy restaurant with one of his many girls, and he stops at a table with Dent and Dawes sitting at it…looks like a date scenerio. So, yes, I definitely believe there’s something there.
As for the Joker, who knows? It could be a great many things.