10 Movie Characters Who Were Perfectly Cast (The Second Time)

3. The Joker - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

The Original

Nobody in their right mind would say that Jack Nicholson's Joker wasn't brilliant and there are even some out there who would argue the merits of Jared Leto's Mr J from Suicide Squad as the definitive version. They're why we can't have nice things.

Nicholson's Joker is like a politician high on his own supply (and a lot of other things, no doubt) and he channels some of the best parts of the TV Joker Cesar Romero to great effect. He's also his own creation though, bringing in elements of his Shining and Witches Of Eastwick performances and clashing satisfyingly with Michael Keaton's stoic, weirdo Bruce Wayne.

Second Time's The Charm...

As great as Nicholson is, Heath Ledger unexpectedly stole his thunder with a performance in The Dark Knight that still stands as the best comic book movie performance of all time. Aided by a haunting physical design, Ledger's creation - built exhaustively and exhaustingly on the back of extensive research - is a force of nature.

Even as Nolan defies pure adaptation, his Joker is the most clear expression of the Batman comics, but it's a performance that absolutely couldn't have existed without Ledger. That's what perfect casting means to a role.