The final cast for 'The Dark Knight' was finally announced, after days of heated speculations as to whom is going to take up The Joker from where Jack Nicholson left it in 1989. After choosing carefully between actors Robin Williams, Paul Bettany and Heath Ledger, the producers opted for the latter.

The 27-year-old Oscar nominated actor will join Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Christian Bale for the sequel of 'Batman Begins'. Rumor has it that Katie Holmes is also on her way of being convinced of putting aside her domestic 'interests' and of reprising her part as Batman's 'girl'.

The president of production from Warner Bros, Jeff Robibnov, said that they are anxiously waiting to see the former cowboy lover get his gear up to play such a hard-hearted villain as The Joker is: 'We also can't wait to see two formidable actors as Christian and Heath face off each other as Batman and The Joker'.

The director of the first movie, that engrossed more than $350 million at the box-office, stated that talent wasn't the only thing they were looking for in the actor that was to play the villain's part. 'Our challenge in casting The Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale's Batman is going to be incredible', Christopher Nolan said.

'The Dark Knight' is to begin production at the end of this year and it will probably be released in the summer of 2007. Warner Bros needs to make sure that the sequel will be even a greater hit than 'Batman Begins' was because it will surely face some strong competition from the James Bond movie and from another comic-based flic, 'The Iron Man'.