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Ledger to go supporting, WB says

Posted by · 9:33 am · October 17th, 2008

Heath Ledger is “100% supporting,” according to Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger.  It seems Karger did what I was too lazy to do this week: call the studio and get the goods.  I figured we’d just wait until an FYC site popped up, but for now, it seems to be settled.

The “Dark Knight” star has been batted around as a lead actor contender by pundits, including yours truly, but even with the news that “The Soloist” and (possibly) “The Road” have vacated the 2008 season — leaving two fresh holes in the lead actor gerby — Warner Bros. is going to be campaigning Ledger as a supporting actor.

Wise move.  And truthful to both the performance and the material.




→ 15 Comments Tags: , , , , , , | Filed in: Daily

15 responses so far

  • 1 10-17-2008 at 10:52 am

    Seany P said...

    I’m very pleased. Although he was the best performance in the movie, the best character in the movie, the most influence on the film’s success and substance, he is still a supporting character in the film

  • 2 10-17-2008 at 11:22 am

    Matthew said...

    I hope they do a little campaigning for Gary Oldman too. Even just a little. At least to give him some props. Because he was fantastic in that movie. Easily one of the best performances of the year so far.

  • 3 10-17-2008 at 11:47 am

    JAB said...

    man, oh well.

    Somebody commented on that story that PSH was going lead for Doubt, any word on that? I kind of hope so, make it as impossible for anything to beat Heath as it can be.

  • 4 10-17-2008 at 11:58 am

    Casey said...

    told-ya-so. good news tho. hate category fraud

  • 5 10-17-2008 at 12:04 pm

    Seany P said...

    Honestly the whole cast deserves to be honored. Perhaps maybe Best Ensemble at the SAGs?

  • 6 10-17-2008 at 12:12 pm

    Kristopher Tapley said...

    Sean: I’m expecting that nomination. The film has been well-received at SAG nom-com screenings and a lot of the cast has participated in Q&As.

  • 7 10-17-2008 at 12:18 pm

    Casey said...

    totally agree with the ensemble nod… cant say win quite yet based on the amount of films i have yet to see but i doubt i’ll see much better ensemble acting this year. Eckhart and Oldman should be in nom talks themselves and Bale has yet to dissapoint me. ever

  • 8 10-17-2008 at 12:18 pm

    Ivan said...

    So

    PICTURE
    Australia
    The Dark Knight
    Milk
    Revolutionary Road
    Slumdog Millionaire

    DIRECTOR
    Danny Boyle/Slumdog Millionaire
    Jonathan Demme/Rachel Getting Married
    Baz Luhrman/Australia
    Christoher Nolan/The Dark Knight
    Gus Van Sant/Milk

    ACTOR
    Benicio Del Toro/Che
    Leonardo DiCaprio/Revolutionary Road
    Frank Langella/Frost-Nixon
    Sean Penn/Milk
    Mickey Rourke/The Wrestler

    ACTRESS
    Anne Hathaway/Rachel Getting Married
    Sally Hawkins/Happy-Go-Lucky
    Angelina Jolie/Changeling
    Kristin Scott Thomas/I´ve Loved You So Long
    Meryl Streep/Doubt

    SUPPORTING ACTOR
    Josh Brolin/Milk
    Robert Downey Jr./Tropic Thunder
    Philip Seymour Hoffman/Doubt
    Heath Ledger/The Dark Knight
    Eddie Marsan/Happy-Go-Lucky

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS
    Penelope Cruz/Vicky Christina Barcelona
    Viola Davis/Doubt
    Rosemarie DeWitt/Rachel Getting Married
    Marisa Tomei/The Wrestler
    Debra Winger/Rachel Getting Married

    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
    Milk
    Rachel Getting Married
    Vicky Christina Barcelona
    The Visitor
    Wall-E

    ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
    The Dark Knight
    Doubt
    Revolutionary Road
    Slumdog Millionaire

    CINEMATOGRAPHY
    Australia
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
    The Dark Knight
    Milk
    Revolutionary Road

    FILM EDITING
    Australia
    The Dark Knight
    Iron Man
    Milk
    Slumdog Millionaire

  • 9 10-17-2008 at 12:33 pm

    Aaron said...

    Apparently, the Weinstein Co, today mentioned Winslet will be campaigned for supporting in The Reader. She has a better chance in supporting than lead.

  • 10 10-17-2008 at 1:34 pm

    Guy Lodge said...

    “She has a better chance in supporting than lead.”

    Kind of impossible to say without having seen either of the performances, isn’t it? Between Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet, it’s a bit unfair for the less starry contenders — Cruz may be genuinely revelatory, but too often the Academy uses this category to throw consolation prizes to leading ladies.

  • 11 10-17-2008 at 2:04 pm

    Patrick said...

    Quite brilliant , however: I believe Heath will win regardless of category. Right on!

  • 12 10-17-2008 at 2:08 pm

    Aaron said...

    What I meant was lead actress is packed and she has a better chance of a nomination and win in supporting. I agree with you about Cruz.

  • 13 10-18-2008 at 12:20 am

    moviegoer said...

    Good move by WB to place Ledger in the supporting actor’s category.

  • 14 10-18-2008 at 2:30 pm

    Choua said...

    Smart move. As good as Heath was as the Joker, trying to put him in the Lead Actor’s race was just pushing it for me. I think he’ll most definitely win, now that he’s in the supporting category.

  • 15 10-18-2008 at 4:44 pm

    Glenn said...

    His rightful placement, so that’s good to hear.