jokers new look?

Now that The Dark Knight has officially begun production in Chicago (Superhero Hype heard via a set spy that a major action sequence is set to film tonight), all the buzz seems to revolve around The Joker -- or, more specifically, what in the world director Christopher Nolan has in store for Heath Ledger. According to Batman on Film, they recently received word that preliminary designs show that The Joker will have "gray skin with lots of scarring," which may or may not look similar to the picture above from Batman #663. Apart from that, BoF's source says Nolan is going for a more scary approach, rather than Joker's familiar clownish look. This would make sense, what with Nolan's version of The Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul in Batman Begins.

As far as his costume goes, it will most likely be nothing like the purple ("Oooh, I looove purple!") suit worn by Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's Batman. Instead, reports indicate Joker's outfit will be "raggedy," like something he just threw together without stopping to make sure everything matched. (Kind of like the way I dress, except without the homicidal maniac angle.) In addition, BoF claims Warner Bros. might release a picture of Heath Ledger as The Joker later this summer in an attempt to ward off any and all spy photos leaked online from the London set.