Toy Fair ’08: Ledger Inspired Joker Figure Announced

Chris Ullrich

Chris Ullrich is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. In addition to ComicMix, he is a contributor to some of the most popular entertainment sites on the net, including The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), Download Squad, Cinematical, Comic Book Resources and LAist, where he has served as Technology Editor.

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15 Responses

  1. Wil Wheaton says:

    Why would this be in poor taste? It's not a Heath Ledger figure, it's a Joker figure.

    • Rick Marshall says:

      According to Mattel, the Dark Knight figures are based on "the likeness of the character, not the actor" — so if it's important enough for them to make this distinction, they must be worried about exactly that type of public reaction.

  2. Chris Ullrich says:

    I don't know for sure if its in bad taste or not, really. The figure does look quite a bit like the actor, even if its supposed to be the Joker. Although, if the family is ok with it then that's all that really matters.

    • Mike Gold says:

      Bad taste is in the mind of the beholder. For example, the ultimate arbiter of good taste, the New York Post, came out solidly against the action figure. If Rupert Murdoch says it's in bad taste, it must be so.

      • Craig Wood says:

        Bad taste is also a matter of timing. I expect there is still going to be a movie with a dead actor in it and there is going to be merchandising around it. The question is what is the appropriate grieving period.

        • Mike Gold says:

          That's about up. I mean, we're not talking about taking Brokeback footage and turning it into Hershey's commercials.

        • Adriane Nash says:

          Craig, The toy isn't actaully on sale yet you know, it was on display at Toy Fair which features upcoming releases for the year. Of course the movie will be released. A man died, yes it is sad, but the movie didn't kill him, an accidental overdose did. By the time the action figure is in stores and the filmis in theatres I'm sure your 'appropriate grieving period' will have passed.My 2 cents: from the pic the doll is goonie looking…

          • Craig Wood says:

            Adriane – Not sure how you summized my opinion from my comments – I merely posed a question – you have obviously have no idea of my leanings on this issue – for me America's obsession with celebrities is the true theatre.

          • Mike Gold says:

            So we are talking about taking Brokeback footage and turning it into Hershey's commercials! Okay!

          • Adriane Nash says:

            And now I have no idea what you're talking about in that last comment. Your question was what's the appropriate grieving period? I addressed your bad taste and timing aspect.Not sure why you're jumping on me.

          • Craig Wood says:

            sorry — I did jump on you — I guess the point is I don't have an appropriate grieving period and therefore find this humorous. Gaging when to capitalize on a celebrity death, which the eventual release of the film will do, and when to pull back is a sociological nightmare, and a decision I'm glad I don't have to make.

          • Adriane Nash says:

            I, personally, feel sorry for the studio. This must be a nightmare for them. They now have to tiptoe around their crazed villain! Its bad enough Ledger won't be available for sound bites during the press juncit for the film but its going to be the lead for any story on the movie. Its not how I'd want to fight Iron Man this summer.And by July I'm sure it'll be a sin to pan Ledger's choices in his portrayal of the Joker.

          • Alan Coil says:

            Proper grieving period? Probably 6 months for my loss. Maybe just days for somebody else's loss. It's a psychological thing. Personal losses last longer.

          • Michael Davis says:

            I am sooo with you Craig and would add that America's obsession with celebrities is the true theatre…for assholes. 4 years ago I was coming from a restaurant in Beverly Hills when my date was pushed to the ground by a Paparazzi idiot. I threw him to the ground and kicked his camera into the street. This women bystander asked me- what I was so mad at, didn't I know that was Hugh Hefner the guy was trying to get a shot of? As if my date's injury was worth that shot.Like I said, assholes.