Paul Bettany front-runner to play The Joker in the next Batman movie

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

British actor Paul Bettany has joined the race to play Batman's nemesis The Joker in a planned sequel to Batman Begins. Director Christopher Nolan left no doubt The Joker would feature heavily in the next Batman installment when the villain, formerly played by Jack Nicholson, left a calling card in the final scene of the box office smash hit. And now Batman fansites are desperately trying to make sure producers pick the right man for the job.

Crispin Glover



was an early favorite, along with

Star Wars' Mark Hamill,



who provides the voice of The Joker in the Batman animated series and

Aussie actor Lachy Hulme,



and now Bettany has got the fans' vote. An insider tells website Batman-on-film.Com that the A Beautiful Mind star is officially in the running to play the evil character.

http://us.imdb.com/news/wenn/