Heath Ledger's Family 'Looking Forward' to Attending His Premiere Tonight

By Brenda Rodriguez

07/14/2008 at 01:30 PM EDT

Heath Ledger's family is eager to attend The Dark Knight premiere in New York City Monday night in honor of the actor, while other family and friends will get to see his buzzed-about performance back home in Perth, Australia in advance screenings.

"I spoke to them before they left for the U.S. and they were great," says a representative with the Australian entertainment company Village Roadshow of the Ledgers, who traveled from their hometown of Perth, Western Australia for the event. "They were looking forward to the trip and going to the premiere."

Michelle Williams will not be attending the premiere. Reports speculated she was "boycotting" it because of a rift with Ledger's family over his 2003 will that left his assets to his father, mother, and three sisters. But that is not the case, says her rep. In a statement issued last month, her rep called any reports of a rift "absurd."

Back in Perth, a handful of Ledger's other family and friends were invited to advance screenings of the Batman sequel.

"Family and friends of Heath Ledger will attend one of several previews of The Dark Knight in Perth on July 14," the Roadshow rep says. "A bunch of tickets was sent to a contact of the family who has distributed them to family and friends."

The Dark Knight hits theaters Friday, July 18.

• Reporting By MELENIE AMBROSE