The buzz about The Dark Knight is mostly swirling around the last performance of Heath Ledger, but Aaron Eckhart also joined the cast of the Batman Begins sequel as Harvey Dent, Gotham's new crusading district attorney. He chatted with Filmazing about how he landed the role, what acting alongside Ledger was like and some of the movie's special effects. But those unfamiliar with Batman mythology should beware, one mild spoiler awaits.

Q: Did you have to audition for this part or did they come to you and say we want you to play Dent?

A: Well, kind of in between. I went to see Chris [director and co-writer Christopher Nolan], Chris summoned me into his office at Warner Brothers, and we had a good chat, and of course I’m a huge admirer of Chris and Batman.  And then I got the call that I could read the script, and I guess when that happens you pretty much have the part. So Chris said yes and that’s how it went. 

You know [I'm] really honored to be in the movie, and at that time, for Chris to allow me to be in the movie and to work with such great actors and to take on such a great character, I feel like it’s a big thing for me in my life.

Q: I think so too.  Not only that but [the character requires] the most stunning visual effects and make-up that I have ever seen. It was hard for me to look at you! We don’t want to give away too much...was that painful? I mean it just looked incredibly bad.

A:  It looks so bad it looks good.  You know, it was a process, [I'm] very happy with that process, but I think it really enhances the character...I think the audience...by the time that they see that, the audience is ready for it.  Because Harvey Dent goes through such a transformation, but it’s wonderful.

Q: Yeah, it’s the best I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen such realistic and frightening makeup.

A: Real artists work on these movies. I have to tell you, from the ground up I was so impressed with everybody and the molds that they made of my head and the casts that they made. And the people who worked on it are real artists.

Q: Truly. And you also worked probably...had more intimate moments, acting moments, with Heath Ledger too than almost anybody in the film.

A: Oh I don’t know about that. I had a good moment with Heath, and it was probably one of the most rewarding days because I enjoyed so much watching him work.  I thought what he did with his character was so amazing that I just kind of sat back and let him go and kind of went with him.  And every time he would do it so different and wonderfully and how he was between takes and everything — I had the highest respect for Heath.

Q: Did you maybe learn anything?

A: Oh yeah, definitely. Absolutely I learned. I’m always looking to learn from everybody I work with.  Yes, I did learn, and you know I learned from him off-camera and I learned from him on-camera, which will help me in the future I think...And from Gary and from Christian and Maggie, and everybody I worked with.

Q: What excites you most about this film?

A: Well, the kids will like it you know. I’m happy that everybody likes it, but because I think this movie works on so many levels from an action movie to a comic movie to a morality tale, it has something for everybody.  I think the kids are gonna be hugely entertained, and I think at the end they are going to really feel like they got their money’s worth, that it was a great experience for them, and I’m happy to be in  something like that and, you know, just the perpetuation of Batman.

Q: Great, yeah. When we walked out, we said this is why we go to the movies.

A: That’s what it is.