The new Batman movie The Dark Knight has had its first screening in Los Angeles before going on general release from mid-July. Even before it opens, it is clear that The Dark Knight will be remembered for one thing above others - as the late Heath Ledger's last film, after his death from an accidental drug overdose.
And there are calls for Ledger to be nominated for a posthumous Oscar, following his final complete performance as the Joker.
"It's not like any portrayal we've seen before," actor Christian Bale said of Ledger's Joker. "In keeping with the movies being nothing like we've seen before. It's a very nihilistic, punk, Clockwork Orange approach. Very realistic and creepy."
British director Chris Nolan knows how to make a Batman movie. His first, Batman Begins, re-booted the superhero genre.
Nolan doubled his bets with The Dark Knight, the Joker was his wild card. And once Heath Ledger signed on, he was not afraid to play it.
"I thought it was going to be the hardest decision we'd make when crafting this film," Nolan said. "But before I even got time to worry about…before we even had a script, Heath told me he was interested in doing it. So we knew from the outset who we had and that they'd be able to do a fantastic job, which indeed he has."
Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Rachel in The Dark Knight and is the second Gyllenhaal to work alongside Ledger, after her brother Jake did so in Brokeback Mountain.
Ledger was nominated for an Oscar for his performance and there calls already he be nominated again for the Joker.
"I found it, very difficult at first," Maggie Gyllenhaal admits. "Then, he's so astonishing in the movie, and I can only speak for myself, but I very soon felt myself watching the Joker, maybe as a way of protecting myself, but more because he's so good."
Heath Ledger was not the only antipodean lost from The Dark Knight production. Kiwi stuntman Conway Wickliffe died during the making of the film.
"I did know Conway, he was a lovely guy," Nolan said. "He worked on both Batman Begins and Dark Knight, special effects technician on Chris Caudwell's team. The quality of their work is so apparent in this film, the large scale effects done for real. It was lovely to work with him, and he was part of a truly extraordinary team."
The stunt work in The Dark Knight is impressive and the new and improved bat transportation will be clocking up its fair share of speeding tickets.
Back in the batsuit is of course Christian Bale. There have been a few modifications to the suit, and no one is more happy about that than Batman.
Keeping it cult, fellow Brit Gary Oldman is also back patrolling Gotham and we see a lot more of Lieutenant Gordon this time around.
The actor is quite happy playing the good guy for a change.
"Its nice getting away from those scary characters," Oldman says. "It's nice to play a good guy and watch those other guys bouncing off the walls and being thrown around. I'm too old for that. It's a young mans game."
And for Batman fans, the fun does not look to be stopping with The Dark Knight. According to Gary Oldman, another Batman is on the cards.
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