Lindsay Lohan talked about Heath Ledger in the New Yorker magazine interview that accompanies her topless tribute to Marilyn Monroe. We covered this story earlier today, but here’s a recap: Lohan called Marilyn’s suicide tragic and then said “You know, it’s also tragic what just recently happened to someone else.” When the journalist said Heath’s name she shook her head yes and “hey are both prime examples of what this industry can do to someone… But I sure as hell wouldn’t let it happen to me.”

Despite the fact that Lohan annoys the hell out of me, I hope she moves to somewhere far away without paparazzi or tanning spray facilities and stops spending money so she can live adequitely (spelling deliberate) outside of the spotlight. I certainly wouldn’t want her to meet a tragic end unless it involves personal bankruptcy and not death. Her father says that the latter is a possibility, considering that she is now, or has at some time, taken many of the same prescription drugs as Heath Ledger was went he died. It sounds like their whole family has the same inflated sense of self importance as their orange daughter:

When Heath died, he was taking some of the same medications that Lindsay Lohan has been prescribed, says her dad, Michael Lohan. “Even before Heath’s death, I told Lindsay that I’m very concerned about the pills she’s taking. Doctors had Lindsay on Oxycontin when she broke her wrist. They also had her on Adderall for ADD, Xanax for depression and anxiety and Ambien for insomnia. Although Lindsay, 21, has told Michael, “Don’t worry, Dad, I’m okay,” he believes that doctors are overmedicating young stars. “I’m not only fearful for Lindsay, but for all the other kids out there… Most of these young people shouldn’t be on some of these medications - instead, they should get spiritual guidance, counseling and exercise. These new drugs get into their bones and bloodstreams and they have to detox to get off them or they can have seizures or possibly die.”

[From In Touch, print edition, February 25, 2008]

Leave it to Michael Lohan to make Heath Ledger’s death about his daughter. At least he has some experience in the field, now that he’s working at a faith-based rehab. He also kept the proselytizing to a minimum, you have to give him credit for just saying “spiritual guidance” instead of name-dropping God and/or His Only Son.

I was confused about the “drugs get into their bones” comment, and asked my husband about it. He’s a scientist and works in the pharmaceutical industry and he told me that drugs can conceivably get into the bones because there are blood vessels there. It terms of detox you would be more worried about drugs getting trapped in fatty tissue, though, not in your bones, even with someone as skinny as Lohan.

Michael Lohan is shown with Lindsay in Cirque Lodge rehab last year.

Heath Ledger's role of Tony in Terry Gilliam's film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," is going to be tackled by three different actors. Jude Law's rep confirmed that Jude, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp, would be stepping in to help finish the film by taking on Heath's role and picking up where he left off at the time of his untimely death.

It's still unclear exactly how the actors will be filling in the holes, with the BBC theorizing that Gilliam will use the footage of Ledger that was already shot before his death and the other actors will be portraying different versions of Tony. The $30 million film suspended production at the news of Heath's passing.

Photos: WENN

There are at least two new official action figures coming out that depict Heath Ledger’s much-anticipated Joker character in the Batman movie The Dark Knight, which is due for release on July 18. Ledger called his Joker “a psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy …” and was open about how he suffered insomnia and psychological torment during his grueling preparation for the role. His family said that it’s fine with them that the action figures are released and that Heath was proud of his portrayal of the Joker. The NY Post quotes a toy expert who acknowledges that the action figures may become collectibles as a result of Heath’s untimely death:

The Post got a sneak peek at the action figures for this summer’s upcoming Batman flick “The Dark Knight,” in which Ledger stars as the psychotic villain The Joker .

Although the doll is being unveiled less than a week after Ledger’s funeral, his family stands behind the company’s decision to go ahead with marketing the collectible.

“Heath was very proud of his work in the film, and his family is aware and supportive of Warner Bros. and its partner’s plans for the movie,” said a family spokesperson.

Mattel will be selling two versions of the Joker doll, both of which hit store shelves in May.

The first retails for $7.99 and features a rocket launcher that can be placed in the Joker’s hand.

The second (pictured), a slightly larger, more detailed version created by famed action-figure designers the Four Horsemen, sells for $10.99 and comes with a toy knife.

“It’s not exactly a marketing point,” said Mattel’s P.J. Lewis of Ledger’s death. “But kids are going to buy the toy if they like the movie.”

Cliff Annicelli, editor of Playthings magazine, said he believes Ledger’s death will definitely increase sales of the Joker figure, especially among adults.

“I would expect it will be a hotter collectible than it would have been before his death,” said Annicelli.

Mattel will probably rely on comic book stores, instead of toy stores, to sell most of the figurines, he added.

“That’s been the marketing plan all along, because the movie is dark and not particularly kid-appropriate,” Annicelli said.

[From The NY Post]

I really want to see this film, because the last Batman with Christian Bale was phenomenal. It was a rare mix of a superhero action film with real depth and emotion. Plus, there was Christian Bale. It’s going to be hard to see Heath on screen, and not think about the fact that he’s gone and that it was one of his last roles. He’s undoubtedly owned it, and advance buzz is that his Joker is darker and scarier than we’ve ever seen before.

Warner Brothers is expected to step away from marketing the film based on The Joker out of respect to Heath. The NY Daily News quotes the editor of boxofficeguru.com as saying that “Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker is already one of the most anticipated screen characters of the whole year.”

Here’s the trailer for Batman: The Dark Knight

Thanks to /flim for the movie poster below and still of Heath and Maggie Gyllenhaal. There are other genuine-looking photos of Heath’s character floating out there that I’ve found, but they seem to be off limits for now.

When I first read this story I thought it must have been something cooked up by a journalist with an overactive imagination, and it very well might be, but movie site Ain’t It Cool News is reporting that the director of the film Heath Ledger left unfinished when he died, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, has three big names in mind to take over for his character. Since the film is a fantasy in which Ledger’s character could easily change into someone else, all three replacement actors may pay tribute to Heath with performances:

Have I mentioned how much I love this idea? Because I do. I think it’s beautiful that the script loaned itself to this sort of idea, that we’re going to see Heath Ledger’s work in Terry Gilliam’s new film, and that we’re also going to see three very interesting actors step up to offer interpretations of him as a way of paying one final tribute to this actor whose career was cut so sadly short.

We’ve heard rumors about who might be stepping in, but now we’ve got the names verified. Count on it.

JOHNNY DEPP.

JUDE LAW.

COLIN FARRELL.

Nice choices, Gilliam. Can’t wait to see what happens inside the IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS, and I’d love to get a look at the script they’re going to use as they start this next stretch of shooting on the film.

[From Ain’t It Cool News]

Ain’t It Cool News has a good reputation for getting insider information on films and this could be true. About three weeks ago unreliable British source The Sun wrote that Imaginarium director Terry Gilliam wanted Johnny Depp to take over Heath’s part. There’s a scene in which Heath’s character falls through a magic mirror, and Cinematical quotes a studio source as saying “He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in.”

Back when that story came out, the movie was in shutdown mode following the death of Ledger, and workers on the film thought it wouldn’t come back. The star of the film, Christopher Plummer, has said that Heath’s final scenes would be created using CGI imagery, and he did suggest that other actors would be used. He is quoted as saying that “Because the film deals with magic, there is a way of turning Heath into other people, and then use stills and computer generated imagery.”

Maybe Heath’s character will get turned into three other top actors. It’s exciting to think that Depp, Law and Farrell might play in this film. I bet Daniel Day Lewis would be happy to be involved too, as he dedicated his SAG Award to Heath and seemed to be very affected by his death.

The evocative header image was created by /film.

Michelle William’s last interview before ex-boyfriend Heath Ledger’s death has just been published in Wonderland, a British magazine. Michelle talks briefly about her split from Ledger, and some of the advantages that came with it – notably less attention from the paparazzi, which was always a big issue for the couple. She also talks about her relationship with their two-year-old daughter Matilda. Michelle had just finished working on a film called “Incendiary” with Ewan McGregor in which she plays a woman who loses her husband in a terrorist attack. It’s very sad to hear her talking about how hard it was just to film something so emotional, knowing she’s actually living it right now.

On Splitting with Heath Ledger:
“When you’re in a relationship with somebody who is also a public personality then it doubles the attention from the media. When you minus that equation it’s just less enticing. That’s been a real bonus. It’s the plus side of the break-up for me. It was so pervading, it got bad there for a while. Every time I walk out of the door I still worry. That’s what is so silly about it: even if the paparazzi aren’t there, you wonder if they are. I’m not good at that stuff. I need to get better at it. It really used to affect me.”

[From Us Weekly]

Michelle and Heath seemed to dislike the paparazzi more than any celebrity couple I can recollect. There’s an infamous picture of the two in bathing suits, flipping off the camera with Heath holding a sign that says “Fuck Off.” They managed to live a pretty low-key existence in Brooklyn, everything considered. By most accounts everyone knew who they were, but were pretty respectful of the couple’s privacy.

Michelle’s been living as a single mother since she and Heath broke up in the fall, but now she no longer has a co-parent and is truly on her own in that sense. She talked about the physical and emotional struggle of filming a demanding movie like “Incendiary” and trying to still be a good mother to Matilda at the same time.

On Balancing Work and Motherhood:
“It’s not easy. Last April I was over in London doing a movie called Incendiary with Ewan McGregor. It’s about a woman grieving after losing her husband and son in a terrorist attack. It was a brutal role and arduous: six-day weeks, 14 hour-days. I was like the walking dead towards the end. Matilda would visit me everyday on-set for lunch and I’d race home to put her to bed. My only days off were Sundays and as much as I’d want to pass out, I’d try to take her out somewhere fun so she didn’t associate me with boredom. The only time that is really my own these days is after I’ve put her to bed and until I go to bed. That’s about two hours.”

[From Us Weekly]

Later on in the interview, Michelle brings up a really good question: why did she choose her line of work, considering she’s such an introvert? Michelle started acting at only 16 and says she never thought it would make her life so public. She seems to definitely be a real introvert, noting, “I have such problems with people looking at me.” She admits that acting is a strange choice of professions, considering the fame it brings. Unfortunately there’s probably no time in her life where she’s wanted less attention given to her, and no time where people have focused on her so much. Hopefully that’ll die down in the coming months and she can figure out a way to live the rest of her life happily.