Caine: 'Ledger will land an Oscar nomination'

Heath Ledger will be honoured with a posthumous Oscar nomination for his role as the Joker in the movie 'The Dark Knight', his co-star Michael Caine insists.

Ledger's performance has been lauded by castmates and preview audiences, and his name is already being mentioned as a contender for next year's Academy Awards - which will take place shortly after the first anniversary of his death.

And Caine is sure he'll get a mention. Speaking on Friday as he unveiled his hand and footprints outside the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, the 75-year-old says: "I think he'll get a posthumous Oscar nomination at least.

"I just watched him and talked to him for three days and I thought he was extraordinary."

Ledger was found dead from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs at his New York apartment on January 28. He was just 28-years-old.

'The Dark Knight' hits movie theatres in the US on July 18.