"Uncertain"

The tragic and untimely death of Heath Ledger-2 days ago has had many consequences...

First an update on personal side of the story:

The initial autopsy results have been ruled "inconclusive" by the medical examiner of New York; Toxicology and other tests to be performed; The results of which will take days to discover...Ledger's former girlfriend, actress Michelle Williams, returned to NYC yesterday, with the couple's 2 year old daughter Matilda...She had been abroad working on a film. She is described as "devastated"

Variety discusses the difficult decisions facing those in charge of his last few projects...

...Production on Terry Gilliam's indie "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" has temporarily shut down...

...Production on Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" sequel is believed to largely completed -- principal photography concluded in the fall -- but the initial marketing campaign focuses on the ghoulish Joker character.

To complicate matters further, the studio has just restructured its marketing operation. International marketing topper Sue Kroll now oversees all marketing for the studio in the wake of the exit of former domestic marketing president Dawn Taubin, who developed the "Dark Knight" campaign.

Kroll will likely have to move quickly to rejigger the studio's current phase of the marketing campaign for "Dark Knight," focusing on Ledger's Joker character. This phase of the campaign had been set to run until March.

...Ledger's death also came as he was working on what would have been his feature directing debut, an adaptation of the Walter Tevis novel "The Queen's Gambit," with British writer-producer Allan Scott.

The leading role of a young female chess prodigy had been offered to Oscar nominee Ellen Page. Ledger, a skilled chess player, was due to play a supporting role...


Wow! I was unaware that Ledger was prepping to go behind the camera for the first time....What might have been...

My advice to those marketing TDK--Take it slow and be deliberate in your decision making process--When appropriate Ask family and loved ones what they want--They know best.

As for Gilliam: He has a tougher road to navigate...I would think even with six weeks or so of production left to go recasting seems impractical...