Almost everyone who saw last summer’s Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight” would admit that Heath Ledger’s outstanding performance of the villainous Joker clearly stole the show, thus invading Christian Bale’s Batman ground as well.

 

What’s more, even the well-regarded Academy considers the late Australian actor’s performance impressive and, as a result, Heath Ledger was nominated for a posthumous Oscar in the best supporting actor category. With Heath Ledger’s performance, a mere comic book character managed to become an iconic persona that is recognized worldwide. Therefore, it should come as no surprise if Heath Ledger is the majority’s favorite to win the award.

 

Obviously, the late actor left behind a couple of huge footsteps that would be very difficult to walk in throughout future installments of the productive Batman franchise. As Warner Bros. CEO Jeff Bewkes expressed his intention of releasing several other Batman productions, one fansite, TheUltimateJoker.com, is requesting the studio to not only proclaim Heath Ledger as the “Best Joker Ever,” but also withdraw the Clown Prince of Crime from future Batman big-screen episodes.

 

Nevertheless, this does not seem to be a good idea, because in spite of the fact that Heath Ledger did a wonderful job with impersonating the Joker, the character represents a presence one can’t possibly make vanish from Batman films, because the superhero legacy has much to do with its villains.

Earlier this wee, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced it had decided to offer Matilda Ledger, the three-year-old daughter of the late actor, the Oscar statuette after she turns 18 if her father turns out to be the winner of the rare posthumous Academy Award for his critically acclaimed performance in “The Dark Knight.”

 

If he wins the award, Heath Ledger will become the second actor to be honored with a posthumous Oscar, following Peter Finch, who won in 1976 for the production “Network.” The late actor’s family will accept the honor on his behalf if he wins and will have to travel from Ledger’s home town of Perth, located in Western Australia, in order to attend the ceremony.