Batman: The Killing Joke (film)

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Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman-The Killing Joke (Blu-Ray-DVD).jpg
Blu-ray Disc cover
Directed by Sam Liu
Produced by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Written by Brian Azzarello
Based on Batman: The Killing Joke
by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Music by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Edited by Christopher D. Lozinski
Production
company
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Distributed by Warner Home Video
Release dates
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  • July 23, 2016 (2016-07-23)
Running time
 72 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Batman: The Killing Joke is an upcoming direct-to-video animated superhero film directed by Sam Liu and produced by Bruce Timm. It is an adaptation of the 1988 graphic novel of the same name, and is part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series. The film is scheduled to be released digitally on July 23, 2016, and via DVD and Blu-ray on August 2, 2016.

Plot

Batman arrives at Arkham asylum to visit Joker in his cell. He describes to Joker about how much misery he has caused to him as Joker deals out sets of Playing cards. Batman puts his hand on Joker's hand only to find out he is NOT Joker, just a decoy to keep Joker out of Arkham. Batman seriously injures the decoy and leaves him hospitalised. Meanwhile, the REAL Joker visits a funfair which is for sale. He discusses a purchase deal with the seller, who reluctantly agrees the deal saying that he is sure everything is in one piece with no loose nails, nuts and bolts. In a flashback, Pre-Joker is seen arriving home after making a fool of himself during a stand up comedy act. His wife, Jeannie, comforts him and offers him a shoulder to cry on. Back at present day, The seller than jumps onto a toy elephant and stays on it looking out to the horizon. As Joker leaves, the seller is shown to have a Joker face, marking that he had been exposed to Joker venom. Later, Batman looks for evidence with a playing card he took from what was supposed to be Joker's cell. The Batcomputer comes up with Joker's biography, Batman sees that it will be a massive challenge to find Joker as his real name, age and relatives are all unknown. Alfred shows up with Bruce's 'refreshments' and strips Batman of his Batsuit as Bruce wonders why Him and Joker hate each other but don't know each other. Meanwhile, Barbara Gordon makes cocoa for her father Commissioner James Gordon when a mystery man knocks on their apartment door. Barbara answers to find Joker with two henchmen. Joker shoots Barbara in the spine and she smashes the glass coffee table on impact to the floor. James watches helplessly as she twitches in pain when Joker tells him that she has a damaged spine thanks to his shot. Joker's henchmen then kidnap James as Joker takes pictures of an injured Barbara while laughing insanely.

In a second flashback, Pre-Joker, now revealed to be called 'Jack', is at a restaurant eating Shrimp with two other men. they discuss to Jack about a robbery at Ace Chemicals. they open their bag to show a red helmet and that Jack will be wearing it so he won't be connected to the robbery and even Jeannie won't suspect a thing. Jack notifies that there are no eye slits and he might not be able to see in it, one man then says that there are red two-way mirror lenses in it, assuring Jack that he will be fine. In present day, Batman sees Barbara in hospital as the Nurse tells him that she was shot through her spine and she will be in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life. He also tells Batman that pictures taken by Joker shown her in a state of undress. Batman asks for a moment in peace with Barbara and starts talking to her, Barbara then wakes up and tells Batman that he should of looked at his eyes, how insane he was at that moment. Batman comforts Barbara but tells her that both her legs are paralyzed, living her more devastated. Barbara asks Batman what Joker is doing to her father.

At Joker's Funfair, James regains consciousness and is taken before Joker by three Joker minions. Joker puts James on a Ghost Train which was modified by Joker himself, Joker also puts his three minions on it. The creepy modifications hit James with nightmares, the modifications were loads of massive, illuminated photos of Barbara during the night of her paralysis. In a third flashback, two police officers show up at the restaurant and ask for a word with Jack. Jack is puzzled about the current situation and says he hasn't done anything wrong. the officers tell Jack that Jeannie has died after unsuccessfully testing a baby-bottle heater. the two friends say they are terribly sorry but Jack assures them that the robbery will still go on. In the present day, Batman receives a ticket to 'Bonus Brothers' with another card saying 'With Compliments' and a Joker Face on it. Batman realises that the invitation is from Joker and sets off to investigate. Meanwhile, James finally reaches the end of the ghost train, James starts to cry about what the future holds for Barbara and Joker is annoyed when he doesn't listen to him, saying he's acting like a 'Turnip'. In a fourth flashback, Jack is with his two accomplices at the Ace Chemical Plant. Jack feels uneasy still from Jeannie's death but proceeds to put on the helmet. Jack asks if his voice sounds echoey to them but they say it sounds great. as they roam through the plant, a security catches them and shoots at them. one man is shot and tells Jack to run with his dying words. Batman arrives and chases after Jack. Batman tries to keep Jack safe by telling him to not step backwards but Jack does so and falls into a vat of several toxic chemicals. Jack rises to shore and struggles to take off the helmet, when he takes it off, he starts to weep. when he looks at his reflection, Jack's weeps turn into giggling, then manic laughing. the screen shows The Joker, his manic laughing turns into INSANE LAUGHING.

In the present, Joker and his partners-in-crime laugh at James as he sobs in a cage. As Joker mocks James, two beams of light appear behind him, It's Batman, He drives past the Joker-stricken seller, who is still riding the toy elephant. Batman confronts Joker and says he might kill Joker or Joker might kill him, perhaps later, perhaps earlier. Joker shoots smoke at batman's arm, it starts to burn through his batsuit onto his skin. Joker runs into a funhouse as Batman sees to James, James says that Joker tried to drive him mad and he wants him taken in 'by the book'. Batman then sets off to pursue Joker, saying he will do his best. Batman runs through a corridor of creepy faces and barely stops himself from falling through a trapdoor leading to lethal spikes. Joker enters a mirror maze and says the Batman will never find him in any mirror maze. Batman then smashes through a mirror and takes down Joker. Joker tries to take off Batman's mask but Batman stops him. Joker then whacks Batman with a wooden stake and brandishes a knife. Joker tries to stab Batman but he stops the blow and throws Joker out a window.

Joker pulls a gun and aims at Batman, he pulls the trigger but it shoots a flag saying 'click click click', much to his dismay. Joker tries to get away but Batman apprehends him. While personally being funny, Joker tells a sick joke, causing Batman to laugh. The screen fades to black as Batman and Joker laugh insanely.

Cast

John DiMaggio, Robin Atkin Downes, Brian George, JP Karliak, Andrew Kishino, Nolan North, Maury Sterling, Fred Tatasciore, Bruce Timm, Anna Vocino, Kari Wahlgren and Rick Wasserman have been cast in unspecified roles.[1]

Production

In 2011 during San Diego Comic-Con International, actor Mark Hamill, who had wanted to quit playing the Joker at that time, stated that he would be willing to voice the Joker for an adaptation of The Killing Joke, encouraging fans to campaign for said adaptation,[2][3] most notably in a tweet on October 24, 2011.[4] Since then, a Facebook page titled "Petition to get Mark Hamill to play the Joker in animated Killing Joke" was set up by his fans.[5] In 2013, Bruce Timm also expressed a desire to create the project, saying it was only a possibility.[6] On July 10, 2015, during the Justice League: Gods and Monsters panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Timm announced that an animated film based on the novel was in development and slated to be released in 2016. Sam Liu will direct and Timm will executive produce the film. The film will feature a 15-minute prologue that sets up the story.[7][8] On July 17, Hamill tweeted that he had his "fingers crossed" in hopes that he would be contacted to reprise his role as the Joker.[9] On July 27, Collider.com reported that Hamill will voice the Joker in the film and ComicBook.com spoke with Kevin Conroy who has stated he would reprise his voice role as Bruce Wayne / Batman "in a heartbeat".[10][11] Although Collider has reported that Hamill will reprise the role for the film, Hamill himself has stated he still has his fingers crossed.[12] On March 14, 2016, it was officially announced that Conroy and Hamill will reprise their roles as Batman and Joker respectively in the film alongside Tara Strong returning to voice Barbara Gordon and Ray Wise voicing Commissioner Gordon.[13] The rest of the voice cast was announced been released on Apple's iTunes.[1]

In January 2016, Timm revealed that the film will be screened at San Diego Comic-Con in July. He added that the team had to "add a lot more story" for the film due to the source novel not being long enough to make a feature-length film.[14] In February 2016, concept artist Phil Bourassa revealed that in 2009, Timm was slated to produce an R-rated version of The Killing Joke, but development on the film was stalled after two weeks due to the under-performance of Watchmen, while also showcasing concept art of the Joker.[15] In April, Warner Home Video confirmed that the film will be the first film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series to receive an R rating from the MPAA, with Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series president Sam Register explaining, "From the start of production, we encouraged producer Bruce Timm and our team at Warner Bros. Animation to remain faithful to the original story — regardless of the eventual MPAA rating ... We felt it was our responsibility to present our core audience — the comics-loving community — with an animated film that authentically represented the tale they know all too well."[16]

Release

Warner Home Video will host the world premiere of The Killing Joke during the 2016 Comic-Con International in San Diego.[14][13] The film will be released digitally on July 23, 2016, while the deluxe edition and combo pack Blu-ray of the film will be released on August 2, 2016.[17]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 1:30 mark of Interview with Mark Hamill at Comic-Con 2011 on YouTube
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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