GOTHAM Producer Teases 'The Joker'; Reveals Reason For Poison Ivy's Name Change

GOTHAM Producer Teases 'The Joker'; Reveals Reason For Poison Ivy's Name Change

In the following interview, Bruno Heller talks more about how Gotham will introduce The Joker in the series, before going on to drop some spoilers about the pilot episode and the reason that the young Poison Ivy (a.k.a. Pamela Isly) has been given a new name. Check it out!

News
By JoshWilding - Jul 20, 2014 04:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Gotham
Source: IGN TV

Following the panel at the Television Critics Association press tour today, IGN TV caught up with Gotham Executive Producer Bruno Heller to ask about the recent rumours that we'll see a possible Joker in each episode of the season before one is revealed as being a younger version of the Clown Prince of Crime. "We will be playing with...Not just with Joker. Half the fun with all of these characters is who is going to turn into what and when? Certainly the Joker is a good example. In the pilot, you see there’s a comedian there. People immediately leap...And that’s really letting the audience do our work for us. Because I haven’t said anything about that guy and people go there!" So, do they still intend to introduce the villain at some point, and if so, will they indeed tease his origin story? "Yeah, we’ll play with that down the line. Not over the course of one season, no, because people will still get tired of that. 'Is that the Joker? Is that the Joker?' No. In a subtle way, we’ll be doing that and hopefully we’ll fool them in the end."

Now, a lot has been made out of the fact that Clare Foley's young Poison Ivy has been renamed Ivy Pepper in Gotham. A lot of fans aren't happy (or are simply confused) about the fact that this alteration has been made, especially as the the promo posters for the series have not used the Pamela Isley name. "It’s really about being able to tell the secret histories of these stories. If you just re-tell stories exactly as they’ve been told before, whilst you’re being true to the created mythology, you’re not really adding anything to it. So you have to find ways of finding more. And in this case, we’ve set up a situation in which Ivy Pepper, her mom is sick, her dad is dead… She’s going to go to the orphanage. And she’s a nice young girl; relatively undamaged. And she will find people to adopt her. And then we will start on the Poison Ivy story that people are familiar with." It certainly sounds as if they have big plans for the character!
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Abary
Abary - 7/20/2014, 4:54 PM
"It’s really about being able to tell the secret histories of these stories. If you just re-tell stories exactly as they’ve been told before, whilst you’re being true to the created mythology, you’re not really adding anything to it."

That's true, but what does a name change have to do with this?
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/20/2014, 5:04 PM
Yeah that really doesn't explain the name change.
There's no logical explanation to why they changed her name.

Pamela Isley sounds like an actual name, Ivy Pepper literally sounds made up and even more campy than Pam Isley (a girl obsessed with plants named Ivy? So original)
Frick that. Literally been a huge supporter of this show until I saw that they changed her name, WHY?!?! It just irritates me.

Crap on every character you want but don't crap on Ivy especially after her stupid film appearance.

DoomBot666
DoomBot666 - 7/20/2014, 5:04 PM
this guy just tries to talk fancy in hopes to not truthfully answer the questions. Just say she gets her name changed when she gets adopted!
otusasio451
otusasio451 - 7/20/2014, 5:06 PM
@TheAbaryMan369 I think what they're saying is, "How did Ivy Pepper become Pamela Isley?" and "How did Pamela Isley become Poison Ivy?" Not sure about the name Pamela, but, if she ends up in an orphanage, Ivy could certainly end up in an orphanage, and her last name could change to Isley. And, hey, her name might actually be Pamela, but she might go by Ivy. Or, Ivy could be her middle name/nickname, or Pamela could be her middle name. Ther're a lot of possibilities.
DoomBot666
DoomBot666 - 7/20/2014, 5:08 PM
I really hope they fast forward a couple of years though, because no one will want to stick around 6 seasons to see the villains BARELY turn into the characters we already know. This show would have been much more interesting if they had it in present time with Batman appearing in the shadows.
otusasio451
otusasio451 - 7/20/2014, 5:09 PM
@CherryBomb I have to admit, I too was miffed by the name change. But, actually, this producer's explanation makes me feel better about it. And, hey, the last name Pepper does exist. And whilst the Ivy part is a bit of a stretch, I still maintain that it could be a nickname, or her middle name. That would mean that Ivy is her true name, and that after whatever tragedy she's inevitably going to go through happens, innocent Ivy will be poisoned. Hence...
deadspeakr
deadspeakr - 7/20/2014, 5:11 PM
Saw the pilot last night. Wasn't entirely impressed, but I'll watch.
otusasio451
otusasio451 - 7/20/2014, 5:12 PM
@questionhound Agreed. I don't think they'll be able to wait so long to give us our beloved characters. A Young Justice: Invasion style 5-year jump would be very interesting. Although, I'm actually happy for a Batman series where the focus ISN'T on Batman. I want the others characters to have their day in the Sun.
otusasio451
otusasio451 - 7/20/2014, 5:12 PM
@deadspeakr How did you see the pilot?
UltimateCookie
UltimateCookie - 7/20/2014, 5:12 PM
Doesn't explain the name change although I agree with the statement. As long as it all makes sense when the show starts I'm good. I want this to be a good show because it has a good premise.
Gyasiman
Gyasiman - 7/20/2014, 5:13 PM
Good gracious. I was excited but this show is seriously over staying its welcome. It seems like the writers and the producers and the actors KEEP trying to convince us to watch this! If Gotham is as good as they say, they should let the show do that. Let the SHOW convince us that it's amazing, not the freaken staff!
McGee
McGee - 7/20/2014, 5:14 PM
Interviewer: Alright....why did you change her name?


Bruno: It’s really about being able to tell the secret histories of these stories. If you just re-tell stories exactly as they’ve been told before, whilst you’re being true to the created mythology, you’re not really adding anything to it. So you have to find ways of finding more. And in this case, we’ve set up a situation in which Ivy Pepper, her mom is sick, her dad is dead… She’s going to go to the orphanage. And she’s a nice young girl; relatively undamaged. And she will find people to adopt her. And then we will start on the Poison Ivy story that people are familiar with.


Interviewer: What? That doesn't answer my question. Why Ivy Pepper and not Pamela Isley?


Bruno: Because you touch yourself at night.



Interviewer:
UltimateCookie
UltimateCookie - 7/20/2014, 5:15 PM
If they were to tweak any character's real name I'd want it to be Harley Quinn. I know she was created for the animated series but since she's been solidified as a real comic book character now can we get rid of Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel?
DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 7/20/2014, 5:16 PM
GeekyCheekyChic
GeekyCheekyChic - 7/20/2014, 5:18 PM
Oh wow this day just gets better with Gotham news.
At this point I feel like the producers are just laughing at us and dreaming of new ways to tick us off. Ivy Pepper.....really ? What happened Martha Vine and Susan Weeds was too far out there?
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/20/2014, 5:19 PM
@otusasio

I'm not buying it. Fair enough if the original comic name was too ridiculous or coincidental, but Pamela Isley is perfect okay, realistic in fact and while sure, Ivy Pepper is a name, it feels so campy and so convenient. Pamela being obsessed with plants and preserving them like in the comics can translate to TV, her obsession with them leads to her self-named Poison Ivy because, as we all know, that's the name of a troublesome plant.

I see what you mean but I don't think his "explanation" makes logical sense.

I'm surprised they didn't rename Selina Kyle "Kitty Meowsalot" because "you're not really adding anything to the old mythology" as he says.
UltimateCookie
UltimateCookie - 7/20/2014, 5:19 PM
I expected this show to use the more realistic villains like Penguin, Joker, Riddler, Hugo Strange and their origins but they kinda lost me with Poison Ivy and Catwoman.
UltimateCookie
UltimateCookie - 7/20/2014, 5:21 PM
Kitty Meowsalot
Klone
Klone - 7/20/2014, 5:29 PM
Changing it to Pepper... oh, spellbinding stuff right here, people.
SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 7/20/2014, 5:30 PM
Is it not acceptable that at some point in time, she changes her name due to events that may be in the story? Relax.
staypuffed
staypuffed - 7/20/2014, 5:34 PM
Pamela Isley is fine.
You know what SHOULD be changed? Harleen Quinzel. Who the [frick] names their child HARLEEN? C'mon, Paul Dini, surely you could've come up with a better alter ego for Harley Quinn originally.
SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 7/20/2014, 5:35 PM
I'm not even a writer for WB or DC, but here we go....

In her late teens/early twenties, wanted felon Ivy Pepper murders and steals the identity of an up an coming, yet reclusive botanist Pamela Isley.

Boom. Done.
SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 7/20/2014, 5:36 PM
Or, since she's an orphan, maybe she's adopted by the Isleys? And renamed Pamela?
CaptainObvious
CaptainObvious - 7/20/2014, 5:36 PM
What exactly does changing a character's name do to add to the mythology? Such a pointless endeavor.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/20/2014, 5:36 PM
Let's play a game called "Think Like the Writers/Producers of Gotham"

Mr Freeze should be named "Frosty Winters" or "Ace Culled"
Mike89
Mike89 - 7/20/2014, 5:37 PM
Ivy Pepper sounds like a condemen you add to some spicy food.

lets call her Dr. Pepper seems more fitting......

dr pepper photo: Dr pepper gif gifrt.gif

Wolf38
Wolf38 - 7/20/2014, 5:37 PM
"Ivy Pepper" is a silly name, even more so than the typical Stan Lee alliteration-naming style. It may mean nothing, or it might mean that whoever is writing this is not entirely with it. Of all Batman-related characters, Poison Ivy is the one who most deserves a good live-action portrayal, and while I'm not expecting this show to do anything too great with the kids, I still feel disappointed with what I'm seeing.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/20/2014, 5:40 PM
@Wolf

PREACH
I'm desperately hoping Affleck's Batman movies will have Poison Ivy, and not a watered down Nolanised Ivy, but a bad-ass, calculating, insanely sexy and powerful Poison Ivy.
Wolf38
Wolf38 - 7/20/2014, 5:42 PM
For what it's worth, just thinking theoretically, Poison Ivy (or Pamela Isley, really) seems like a villain who could fit into where the WB/DC films are going, as far as environmental issues, Aquaman, etc. She is an environmental extremist, and could easily play a small role in a film, as someone miffed by the world getting torn up with all the superhero action. I'd love to see something like that play out, anyway.
SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 7/20/2014, 5:42 PM
Henri Ducard was not a member of the League of Assassins.

Oliver Queen never left the island and he certainly never met Slade Wilson there.

The Lazarus Pit was not a prison.

Logan is not as tall as Jackman.

Barry Allen is supposed to be blond.

Iris West is also a blond. A caucasian blond.

Joe Chill killed Batman's parents, not Joker.

Mandarin is neither a junkie British actor nor a douchebag industrialist with Extremis.

Harvey Dent is a long-standing thorn in Batman's side not dead hours after becoming Two-Face.

Venom is not a secret project being worked on by Oscorp

AND TOM BOMBADIL WASN'T IN THE [frick]ING MOVIE!




Relax, people.
Namor
Namor - 7/20/2014, 5:50 PM
Some of you aren't to swift , are ya? Did you ever stop to think it dosen't make sense she'd change her first name just because she got adopted? Obviously she probably has a new found(of maybe always has) love for Plants and stuff, and when shes adopted, the new parents allow her to change her 1st name, and she chooses IVY. I highly doubt the adopted parents change her first name to Ivy.lol
SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 7/20/2014, 5:50 PM
Both Johnny and Sue Storm are blond caucasians as well.

Lex Luthor and Superman did NOT grow up in the same town.

Parallax does not look like a giant yellow fart cloud.

Galactus also does not resemble a giant fart cloud.

Nightcrawler is Mystique's son.

Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are Magneto's kids.

Joe Chill is NOT shot down by Carmine Falcone's henchmen (killed by the Grim Reaper)

The first Robin is Richard Grayson, not John Blake.

Spider-Man's web shooters are something he invented, not a part of his powers.


Do I really need to continue?
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