Ledger's Joker death scene cut?

Rex Features

Warner Bros is considering cutting a scene from The Dark Knight in which Heath Ledger's Joker pretends to be dead.

Audiences who saw the film at a test screening were disturbed by footage that shows Ledger's character pretend to be dead and getting photographed in a body bag.

The reaction prompted nerves from the studio, who considered axing the scene from the final cut.

However, sources told Moviehole that the part of the film that unsettled some test audiences will remain.

"That scene is in the film," the insider said. "I also know that WB has made no such mandate and that Chris (Nolan, the director) is honest when saying that he will not change what was intended with The Joker."

The Dark Knight will be released in the UK on July 25.