Chapter 92: Jim Carrey as the Joker

"Take a look at the script."

Kevin handed Jim Carrey a separately printed script.

"The Dark Knight?"

Curiously, Jim Carrey silently flipped through the script.

...

Gotham City, a city always shrouded in dark clouds under the night sky, harbored evil within its streets.

It was also one of the cities with the highest crime rates in the United States.

In this city, there was a vigilant known as Batman, assisting the police in apprehending one criminal activity after another.

Among the countless criminals, one stood out and became the uncrowned king of criminals—The Joker.

The story revolved around the two of them.

They were like two sides of the same person, the embodiment of justice and evil, like twin brothers.

The Joker constantly presented Batman with morally ambiguous choices, toying with him.

In the end, Batman had to make a choice between his own ideals and the justice he upheld...

This script deeply moved Jim Carrey.

Jim Carrey suddenly looked up, his expression filled with urgency and anxiety as he pleaded, "Director Steve Kevin, please let me play the role of the Joker."

In that instant of reading the script, Jim Carrey felt a stirring emerging from the depths of his heart.

Jim Carrey's transformation into the Joker would be astonishing. He must embody a manipulative demon, a madman, and the king of criminals.

The Joker was a marginalized figure in society, a laughingstock, a pitiful soul.

This character had a multi-dimensional depth that would undoubtedly shine on the screen.

However, there was a significant question lingering: Could Jim Carrey, a professional comedian, successfully portray such a role?

Even Jim Carrey himself didn't possess absolute confidence in this regard.

But he wasn't willing to give up on this opportunity and resolutely spoke up.

Kevin smiled faintly. "Please show me your rendition of the Joker, let me see if you can capture the feeling I'm looking for."

Although Kevin had witnessed Jim Carrey's phenomenal acting skills in his previous life, he hadn't seen it in the present. So, a preliminary assessment was necessary.

Jim Carrey nodded, lowered his head, and glanced at the script, selecting a scene that had just left a deep impression on him.

He memorized the lines, breaking them down into fragments and etching them in his mind.

Then, he raised his head.

A deranged Joker appeared before Kevin.

Unlike Heath Ledger and other excellent portrayals of the Joker that required makeup to express the character's identity and traits, Jim Carrey, solely through his eyes and facial expressions, conveyed to Kevin that he was the Joker, the mad king of Gotham City.

"I'm a clown. In the eyes of others, maybe they'll like me, or maybe they'll hate me."

"But no one truly understands me. No one knows my past, my sorrow."

"Those who are down and out only care about whether I can save them from their unhappiness."

This dialogue was spoken by the Joker before he truly became the Joker, when he was still somewhat sane.

This state of being on the verge of madness, not yet fully insane, was brilliantly portrayed by Jim Carrey before Kevin's eyes.

Then, with just a minor facial change, Jim Carrey controlled the corners of his mouth, stretching them widely, forming an exaggerated smile.

However, Kevin could sense from Jim Carrey's face a sensation known as "smiling on the surface but not in the eyes," which showcased exceptional control over his facial expressions.

In Kevin's memory, there were only three people who could achieve such mastery.

One was the actor who portrayed the old version of Ji Gong, Mr. You, who, when Ji Gong burned down his own house, had a face half-laughing and half-crying.

It was a divine acting skill that made it seem like he was both crying and laughing.

Another was Stephen Chow in "A Chinese Odyssey," who, after using the Mirror of Demons to reveal the true form of a monster, changed expressions seven times in a mere ten seconds.

The last was Jim Carrey himself.

These three individuals were the pinnacle of acting in Kevin's mind. They didn't require overly exaggerated movements—just a glance, a subtle change in facial expression—could convey the character's psychological transformation.

Jim Carrey continued reciting his lines.

"From their perspective, you're just a freak, like me."

"They need you now, but once they don't, they'll cast you out like a leper. Their morals, their code, it's a bad joke."

"When the chips are down, these civilized people will eat each other."

"And you'll see, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve."

Following those lines, Jim Carrey erupted into a series of maniacal laughter.

A perfect depiction of the Joker emerged before Kevin.

Kevin applauded, breaking Jim Carrey's portrayal.

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

"I couldn't have imagined anyone more suited to play the Joker in Hollywood than you."

"You can take the script with you, but I hope you'll be cautious about keeping its contents confidential."

Without a doubt, Kevin was handing the role of the Joker directly to Jim Carrey.

Upon hearing Kevin's words, Jim Carrey's face lit up with joy, resembling that of a child.

He looked exceptionally innocent.

"Thank you, thank you, Kevin!"

Jim Carrey's gratitude brought a sense of comfort to Kevin.

His words were sincere, filled with genuine appreciation.

"No need to thank me. I see the potential in you."

"In my eyes, you have the qualifications to become one of the greatest actors in Hollywood."

Through their exchange, Jim Carrey suddenly regarded Kevin as his closest confidant.

They continued to chat for a while before Kevin bid farewell to Jim Carrey.

Now that the crucial role of the Joker was filled, Kevin planned to discuss specific investment matters with Warner Bros. Once that was settled, he could immediately begin casting other actors.

Calculating the funds and time, Kevin realized that once the profits from the Dark Knight trilogy were recovered, he could make a move on Marvel.

With this thought in mind, Kevin boarded his car and headed towards Warner Bros.