Heath Ledger has forever imprinted his exceptional talent in the cinematic world. His versatility and method of acting helped to gain acclaim for his projects that continue to set a benchmark even today. While he is highly renowned for his acting career, many might be surprised to know that he was planning to direct a feature film before his tragic death in 2008.
Having worked in the Australian entertainment industry, he moved to the US in the late 1990s to make a name of his own in Hollywood. From Brokeback Mountain to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, he amassed a dedicated fan following with his acting abilities. While he has surely left an indelible mark with his acting capabilities, he was working on his directorial debut before his unfortunate demise.
Heath Ledger Planned to Direct a Feature Film
Between 2007-2008, Heath Ledger was planning to direct a feature movie which Todd Haynes recently mentioned in an interview with The Guardian. Talking to the outlet, he was asked to share his experience working with the late actor in I’m Not There?
Praising the actor, he mentioned,
“Heath was one of the most gifted and deep-thinking and feeling actors I’ve worked with.”
He further mentioned about his plans for his directorial debut as he stated,
“He was planning a feature film. When he came to Montreal for I’m Not There, unlike all the other actors who came and went because of their schedules, he stayed. He wanted to keep the creative environment we had.”
In his documentary, I Am Heath, it was revealed that he was working to make the film adaptation of Walter Tevis’ novel, The Queen’s Gambit with British writer, Allan Scott (Allan Shiach). While this movie could have been a big move for the Joker actor to step into the filmmaking world, he already had a few directorial works in his portfolio.
Heath Ledger’s Other Directorial Works
Haynes further gave an insight into Ledger’s directorial career as he called him “an exquisitely accomplished director.” He had a firm belief in his work as he praised the late actor in the same interview,
“He’d already directed rock videos and shorts, and each of them was completely distinct stylistically. Some were like musicals that he choreographed, like a [Bob] Fosse musical. Others were gritty, black-and-white, personal cinema, avant garde cinema.”
He has directed various music videos including hip hop artist N’fa’s CD debut solo album, Cause An Effect and single, Seduction Is Evil (She’s Hot). In the same year 2006, he also helmed a music video for Harper’s song, Morning Yearning.
The feature film would have been his major directorial project as he also planned to act in the movie. Screenwriter, Shiach revealed (via Independent) that the late actor was interested in offering the lead role to Canadian actor, Elliot Page.
The writer added,
“Heath was full of ideas for the other cast, mainly from his list of acting friends. We were planning to make a movie at the end of 2008.”
His dream directorial debut never came to fruition as he died in January 2008 due to an accidental overdose of medications.
