While there were rumours that Heath Ledger's Joker would make a cameo (perhaps using unused footage from The Dark Knight) in The Dark Knight Rises, it accounted to nothing more than talk and Christopher Nolan said on numerous occasions before the release of the film that he wouldn't even mention the villain as a sign of respect to the actor. Nuke The Fridge have posted the following excerpt from Greg Cox's novelization of the film, perhaps shedding some insight into why the villain wasn't one of those who was seen escaping from Blackgate.
Now that the Dent Act had made it all but impossible for the city’s criminals to cop an insanity plea, it (Blackgate Prison) had replaced Arkham Asylum as a preferred location for imprisoning both convicted and suspected felons. The worst of the worst were sent here, except for the Joker, who, rumor had it, was locked away as Arkham’s sole remaining inmate. Or perhaps he had escaped. Nobody was really sure. Not even Selina.
Whether this is based on details which were included in Christopher Nolan's original screenplay isn't known, although it really does make you think about what might have been. Had Ledger not died when he did, imagine a scene in the film featuring Batman visiting The Joker in Arkham Asylum to discuss Bane's attack on Gotham. In fact, it's hard to imagine
The Dark Knight Rises not being a completely different film! Regardless, at least this offers some resolution as to where The Joker was during the events of the finale to Nolan's trilogy.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ "The Dark Knight Rises" is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster "The Dark Knight." The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.
STARRING:
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Michael Caine as Alfred
Gary Oldman as Commissioner Jim Gordon
Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox
Tom Hardy as Bane
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake
Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate
Josh Pence as Ra's Al Ghul
RELEASE DATE: July 20th, 2012
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