When “The Dark Knight” makes its debut on the big screen next month all eyes will be on the movie’s star the late Heath Ledger… and on his family who plans to be front and center at the film’s premiere.
According to new reports, the premiere of Ledger’s final complete film, in which he stars as Batman’s nemesis, The Joker, will be dedicated to the actor and his family just acknowledged that they will be the special guests at the event.
New York newspapers are reporting that Ledger’s parents and sisters will make the trip from their native Australia to New York, for the screening of the “Batman Begins” sequel “The Dark Knight” on July 14th.
Christopher Nolan, the film’s director, told the papers he has created a memoriam to the actor, which will be shown at the end of the movie.
The Ledger’s have not been to New York since they made the trip to pick up their son’s body after he died from an accidental overdose in January.
While it hasn’t been officially confirmed there is no doubt dozens of Ledger’s friends and former colleagues will also be attending the tribute to the late movie star on July 14th, including the Gyllenhaal’s.
Jake Gyllenhaal starred alongside Ledger in 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain,” while his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal appears opposite the late actor in, “The Dark Knight.”
Both Gyllenhaal’s have been tight-lipped about the Ledger’s passing… until now.
Recently, Maggie Gyllenhaal broke her silence regarding Ledger’s death and lashed out at the media for the way they covered the actor’s untimely passing.
In an interview with Britain’s Empire magazine, the Secretary star blasted journalists for their style of reporting after the tragic death of the Australian actor, insisting she was “shocked” by the way they tackled the sensitive issue.
Gyllenhaal goes on to say that media was tremendously “disrespectful” and “rude.”
Maggie Gyllenhaal also revealed that Ledger’s death has taken its toll on her and her brother with whom Ledger was very close.
She tells Empire magazine, “It’s hard to talk about how it’s (Ledger’s death) affected me personally. It’s been really hard for me and really, really hard for my brother.”
Maggie’s brother Jake has refused to publicly speak about Ledger’s death, though that might change if he attends the New York tribute to his friend next month.