Batman: The Killing Joke coming to the big screen!

by J. Brent Stewart
0 comment

Fathom Events is bringing a one night special screening of the animated film to select theaters.

Monday July 25th at 7:00pm and 10:00 pm.

Fans of Batman, R-rated cartoons, and expensive popcorn rejoice: Fathom Events will be presenting a special one night screening of the animated Batman: The Killing Joke, before it is released on Blu Ray and DVD on August 2nd, 2016.

Adapted from the best-selling one-shot comic created by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland back in 1988, The Killing Joke is acclaimed as one of the definitive Joker stories, and is widely considered to be one of the best Batman stories ever published. Interwoven with a tale of the Joker kidnapping Commissioner Gordon and assaulting his daughter/niece/whatever she is these days Barbara Gordon, is a look into the possible origins of the Joker himself. The Killing Joke was a notable signpost along the road of the grim and gritty 1980’s. But hey, if the story is too dark for you, just enjoy the pretty Brian Bolland artwork. So pretty.

DC’s animated wing recently made waves when it announced that their upcoming animated adaptation of The Killing Joke was going to have an R rating, which raised questions about just how graphic the film would be. The original story, while certainly mature in nature, wasn’t released with a “Mature Readers” label after all. Are Warner Bros going to push the violence in order to justify the rating? Is Batman going to start swearing like a sailor just so Warner Bros can chase Deadpool dollars?

Whatever the justification, it’s going to be rated R, it’s going to feature the voice-acting of fan favorites Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Mark Hamill (The Joker), and Batman The Animated Series producer Bruce Timm is returning as executive producer, so it certainly has a pedigree that will make fans take notice.

The special screenings by Fathom will include a special introduction by and documentary about Hamill and his involvement in the project.

Here’s Fathom’s press release, also available here: Tickets go on sale June 17th!

You may also like