Composers of "The Dark Knight," Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard had a hunch that their music would have to encapsulate the essence of the Joker played by the late Heath Ledger.

However, with the news of Ledger's death they were stunned and taken aback while composing the music.

“It was so inconceivable, you know, when we heard about this," Zimmer told Parade.com "Actually, I for a moment was thinking, 'Oh my God, I should throw out all the music I’ve written for the Joker and just start over again.' Which is just exactly the wrong thing to do. And I mean, I can never find a better word for it but to honor his performance, I had to stick to my guns."

"The music has to portray the philosophy of anarchy that the Joker displays in the face of Batman’s valor. I couldn’t soften the music or compromise the evil he projects because Heath really did give such a tremendous performance. If I had taken my eye off the ball, if I had been sentimental, if I had done anything like that, it would really have not served him,” Zimmer said.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/...in4225187.shtml