HOLLYWOOD – Heath Ledger has been cast as the Joker in director Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to “Batman Begins.” Warner Bros. confirmed the casting Monday, along with the name of the upcoming movie: “The Dark Knight.”
Rumors of Ledger’s casting had circulated during the recent Comic-Con International convention in San Diego after a posting on LatinoReview.com.
Shooting is expected to begin early next year, with Christian Bale returning as Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Couric to make debut with Sept. 11 special: Katie Couric will make her prime-time CBS News debut on Sept. 6 with a one-hour special tied to the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the network said Monday.
“Five Years Later – How Safe Are We?” will air at 10 p.m. and talk about what the government is doing to prevent future attacks and how anxiety affects Americans.
It’s one day after Couric makes her debut as “CBS Evening News” anchor.
Lohan back at work and well-behaved: Accused party girl Lindsay Lohan is back at work on the set of “Georgia Rule” after receiving a scolding by letter from the producer, according to a spokesman for Morgan Creek Productions.
The unusual letter was written to the 20-year-old actress last week by Morgan Creek chief James G. Robinson, who threatened to hold her financially responsible for numerous absences and late arrivals to the set that he said have cost “hundreds of thousands” of dollars in delays.
Robinson’s letter, which accused Lohan of acting “unprofessional” and like “a spoiled child.” Robinson also said her excuses of illness and exhaustion were transparent euphemisms for “ongoing all-night heavy partying.”
Wilson trilogy headed for stage: The Signature Theater Company in New York has set a price of $15 for all performances and seats in the eight-week runs of the three plays in its August Wilson series. Those tickets normally sell for $55.
The first play in the series, “Seven Guitars,” is directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who won a Tony for his performance in the original Broadway production. “Seven Guitars” runs through Sept. 23 at Signature’s Peter Norton Space.
“Two Trains Running” will begin performances in November, while “King Hedley II” is slated for February 2007.
Wilson is the author of modern classics such as “Fences,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Gem of the Ocean,” which, taken together, explore the experience of African Americans decade-by-decade during the 20th century.
Signature, as part of its 15th anniversary celebration, previously offered steeply discounted seating for “Landscape of the Body” and “Trip to Bountiful.” The Wilson series is being underwritten by grants from Time Warner and Target and marks the first serious exploration of the playwright’s work in New York since his October death.
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