Joseph Gordon-Levitt Cast In Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’

Joseph Gordon-Levitt It may have been to the dismay of Batman fans everywhere when it was announced a couple of months ago that Christopher Nolan’s next project won’t be Batman 3, but rather a sci-fi “mind thriller” called Inception. Not much is known about the plot of the movie other than the description that it’s “a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind,” but the casting sure has geared up over the last while.

Leonardo DiCaprio was first to be cast in the film, playing the lead, and Cillian Murphy (who worked with Nolan previously on Batman Begins and briefly in The Dark Knight), Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard were also announced to star. On top of that, there was also word that Sir Michael Caine (*bow*) might be coming on-board, too. And today we have another talented actor joining the cast in the form of Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

James Franco (Spider-Man,Pineapple Express) reportedly was supposed to play the role in the film, but due to scheduling conflicts he dropped out. Levitt will now play the role which is described as a CEO type who is an associate of DiCaprio’s character. The film will start shooting this summer but that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing Levitt during that time - he will grace our movie screens in a couple movies this summer: the aptly titled 500 Days of Summer, a Sundance indie comedy hit, and of course he will be seen as Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

It’s hard to know just what to make of Inception, not least because its story has been shrouded in almost complete secrecy ever since it was announced. Apart from a one-sentence description of it being some sort of “mind thriller,” we really don’t know how it’s going to turn out, what it’s going to be about or if it’s reminiscent of any of Nolan’s other work. That may be a good thing: keeping its plot an almost complete secret may be a genius marketing move – a lot of people may just go to see it just to see what the hell it’s all about (and because of who’s in it).

I very much look forward to whatever Mr Nolan, one of the most talented filmmakers of our time, has in store for us with Inception. He has yet to let me down – I can honestly and wholeheartedly say I really like every single one of his movies. If I had to pick a handful of director’s who are going to be around for a very long time, solidifying themselves into movie history as the likes of Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick have, Nolan would certainly be amongst that small group.

That cast doesn’t exactly hurt either. DiCaprio, Page, Murphy, possibly Caine, and now Levitt?… It seems that Nolan really believes in this piece of original work he has both written and directing, and he wants genuine talent to portray characters he has envisioned from scratch.

I just wonder if this secrecy that shrouds this project will be kept up, or if we’ll get flooded with details when it gets nearer the time of release. I really hope for the former…

What do you think of the casting so far for this movie? Do you think they should keep the plot as secret as possible or give out as much details about it as they can?

Inception is hoped to start shooting this summer and is scheduled for a release sometime in 2010.

Source: THR

Tags: inception,

NimH

Everyone' relying on Brick to affirm Levitt's ability to take on Joker? Has no one seen Manic? He is SICK in that film... Totally unstable and primally violent.
He's it. Joseph Gordon Levitt is destined to be the Joker... Who, by the way, is no mere villain in a list to pick and choose from. The Joker is Batman's continuing purpose for doning the mask and cape.
He must return.

Leo

Hey Josh ...well I think you should check out Levitt's movies..because you are not giving him enough credit...in case you didnt realize heath had some stupid teen movies ....which didnt prove for him to be a good enough star..yet the other serious roles were awesome...most of levitt's movies have been serious and quite neurotic...for instance the one when he shows his acting skills to the core in the movie Mysterious Skin....anyways my point is Heath gave his all for joker...however I KNOW Joseph could do just as much and be awesome..not to top Heath but to remember or pay tribute to Heath who was great.

Dean

Don't dismiss Joseph Gordon-Levitt's acting ability because you are unfamiliar with him. Watch the movie "Brick" - this guy can act and can definitely play The Joker like Ledger did. Also, lets not blow Heath Ledger's Joker performance out of proportion - he was good yes - but it wasn't the greatest acting ever preformed in human history like so many sheep... I mean fans seem mimic.

Hobeau Sauvage

Hey, this is my first time posting on this, but I love Nolan, so why not. I don't think Levitt would be a good Joker, what's the point of trying to get someone to mimic a role like that? But, he could be a fantastic Riddler! He's a scrawney guy, has a weird sense of humour and brick proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can act, so why not?

Sock Monkey

@Patrick
I think that Levitt could not only look like Heath Ledger's Joker, but act a lot like him too. And I think that his performance in 3rd Rock would only help in his portrayal of the Joker. By Levitt's experience with playing a creatively challenging character as the old-man/teenager.

However as good of a joker Levitt could play, I agree with Ross, Joker was a superb character in the best movie that year. So we should leave it at that.

Matt K

id like if they brought back the joker so they could introduce harley quinn to the series, but then there is the whole problem of doing the joker what was done to "the scarecrow" in TDK

Patrick

Ross Miller@

I know what you mean man, that movie is a modern classic.
He played a very unassuming bad ass, both physically and mentally.
I need to watch it again too. When I first saw a trailer for it I tried to find it everywhere, and only finally got to see it when I saw it on a shelf at the library.

I see what you are saying, I was just hoping they would at least have one of the infamous Arkham scenes, where they are wheeling down the villain at the end, and you see all the previous villains in cells, but you are right, having him as the main villain wouldn't work.

Ross Miller

@Patrick,

SO glad someone mentioned Brick! One of my favourite cultish movies of the last few years. Such cool dialogue, kind of like a modern day Clockwork Orange with all their own words for certain words:) Levitt really proved himself with that.

I gotta' watch that one again soon, actually...

As for The Joker in the next Batman, even if Ledger were still alive I don't think they should use him again. It's clear that Nolan will only do three movies and say goodbye to the franchise after that. He will have made his contribution with hopefully a trilogy of amazing movies (I don't think we have any doubt the third one will be great just like the other two), and then he can move on to other things. I think there should be the first three Batman movies, of the rebooted universe, with just one Joker, and that being Ledger.

I think ANY actor can be replaced, yes even Ledger as The Joker, but for the sake of the story I don't think they need to have him in there again.

Matt K

comingsoon.net just announced that Michael Caine has also joined the cast

Patrick

I have seen a lot of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's acting, like Brick, a little known movie that earned him my respect.
If he were cast, he would probably suffer a little prejudice from his role on 3'd rock from the sun, but I think he could pull it off. Maggie and Katie have one specific facial feature... the droop face. their faces look like they are about to fall off at any moment. please don't tell me they cast Maggie because of her acting skill, that would have been counter productive.

Matt K

josh r,

a lot of people said that same thing about heath ledger when he was first cast

Josh R

No no no no no. Nolan's not stupid enough to cast a character based on looks alone. If that were the case he'd have went with someone other than Maggie Gyllenhaal, who doesn't look a thing like Katie Holmes.

IF the Joker were to return, I'd much rather Nolan recast him with someone who can act at the same level, and not just because he looks like Ledger. I've seen very little of Levitt's work, but what I have seen is evidence enough that he couldn't carry the Joker role.

But I'm really stoked for this movie. Memento is easily in my top 5, and I love The Prestige, too. As good as Nolan's Batman movies are, his best work isn't bat-related.

Patrick

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the only actor that looks enough like Heath Ledger to play the Joker.
could this be a move by Nolan to get familiar with Joseph?
Nolan has a collection of actors that he likes to cast in movies. No one will ever beat Heath's performance, but if they do include The Joker in Batman 3, I think Joseph would be the closest.