Heath Ledger’s family will reportedly travel from Australia to represent the late actor at the opening of his film, “The Dark Knight,” in which he portrayed notorious comic book villain The Joker. The film is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the summer blockbuster season and many believe would have catapulted Ledger to Tom Cruise/Will Smith heights of fame had he lived.

Word is that Heath Ledger’s family will travel from Australia to attend the world premiere of “The Dark Knight,” the late actor’s final completed film, in New York in late June. (Update: buzz is the NY premiere will be on July 15) The film has been dedicated to Ledger by the director, Christopher Nolan, and will have a memoriam to the actor at the end.

In this latest installment of “Batman,” Ledger plays the Joker with a terrifyingly psychotic performance that, to me, surpasses Jack Nicholsen’s in large part because Jack was basically doing Jack wearing clown makeup (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

But Heath’s creepy performance (with garish melted makeup like that of “The Crow,” played by Brandon Lee, who also died needlessly young) seems to have summoned up demons no one could have imagined accessible to him, particularly after his seeemingly effortless Oscar-nominated role as Ennis del Mar, the emotionally repressed, painfully shy and inarticulate cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain.” There’s already rumors floating around Hollywood that his “Dark Knight” role will earn Ledger some posthumous supporting actor nods at the 2009 Oscar, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards.

[From the LA Times]

Personally, I cannot wait to see this film. The teasers look amazing, and the first film in this new franchise was great. I’d feel that way about the film whether or not Ledger had survived. This must be a very bittersweet occasion for his family, however. I can understand why they’d want to come out and support his film, but at the same time, they must get sick of all the questions and cameras pointing at them.

Kim Ledger is shown making a statement to the press before Heath’s memorial service on 2/8/08, thanks to Splash.