Jack Napier, also known as the Joker, is a fictional character introduced in the 1989 superhero film Batman, directed by Tim Burton. Primarily portrayed by Jack Nicholson, the character was based on the DC Comics supervillain the Joker.
Several actors were considered for the role of the Joker before Nicholson was cast. Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Willem Dafoe, Ray Liotta, David Bowie, and James Woods were all considered. Burton initially wanted to cast character actor John Glover. Burton also considered Brad Dourif; but ultimately the studio insisted on using a bankable movie star. John Lithgow met with Burton about the part, but during their discussion attempted to talk the budding director out of casting him, which would be something he would later regret. Lithgow was also director Joe Dante’s first choice for the role of the Joker when he was attached to direct the film in the early 1980s.
Jack Nicholson had been the studio’s top choice since 1980. Jon Peters approached Nicholson as far back as 1986, during filming of The Witches of Eastwick. Peter Guber took Burton and Nicholson on a horseback riding excursion in Aspen to get the pair acquainted and convince him to take the role. Nicholson’s contract featured an “off-the-clock” agreement, specifying the number of hours he could have off, and allowed him to take time off to attend Los Angeles Lakers home games.
As a part of Nicholson’s contract, he was allowed to have approval over the makeup designer to create the look of the character. Nicholson chose Nick Dudman as his makeup designer. Dudman used an acrylic-based makeup for the bleached white face. Dudman cited the scene in the art gallery where Napier gets splashed with water by Vicki Vale as being the most difficult effect to achieve. To create the smile, Dudman did a regular face cast of Nicholson with a relaxed face, then asked him to do another one while pulling the largest grin he could muster. Dudman attempted to sculpt a smile that was always there but would take full effect when Nicholson smiled in the makeup; he also worked to ensure that the prosthetics wouldn’t dilute Nicholson’s face.
In 2020, behind the scenes photos from the production of Tim Burton’s Batman movie have emerged for sale for £15,000. The 277 Polaroids were used to ensure continuity by the 1989 film’s costume designer Bob Ringwood. They include candid snaps of Jack Nicholson during downtime on set while dressed and made up as the Joker.
The legendary actor is seen relaxing on a yellow sofa and grinning in between takes while his downed character lies spreadeagled on the floor. There is another photo of him wearing a dressing gown which is open at the front exposing his bare torso and one of him smiling for the camera in his Batman costume.
