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Batman: The Killing Joke animated movie from Bruce Timm

Turtletrekker

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Bruce Timm announced his next animated project for DC at SDCC-- an adaptation of the classic Alan Moore/Brian Bollard Batman tale, "The Killing Joke".

IIRC, when Mark Hamill announced that he was done with the Joker, he said that the only thing that would bring him back to the role would be "The Killing Joke". It would be... beyond amazing if Timm did this as a Kevin Conroy/Mark Hamill reunion project, even if it strictly wasn't DCAU.

Details here.
 
I would imagine they'd have to change some things around or this'll be the most misanthropic animated film of all time. :lol:
 
IIRC, when Mark Hamill announced that he was done with the Joker, he said that the only thing that would bring him back to the role would be "The Killing Joke".

And then Arkham Knight came out (not that I'm complaining becuase it was awesome). So probably not that hard to get Hamil back.
 
I would imagine they'd have to change some things around or this'll be the most misanthropic animated film of all time. :lol:

Do you mean misogynistic, because of the controversial treatment of Barbara Gordon? I'm uneasy about that, because the DC Universe movies have tended to lean heavily on male gaze and female objectification in recent years. I don't trust them to handle it sensitively. (Although their adaptation of Batman: Year One did handle the other Barbara Gordon, Jim's first wife, much better than Frank Miller did.)
 
The minute that this comes out I'll be buying it. I have been looking forward to this one for a long time and I hope that it's done justice.
 
I would imagine they'd have to change some things around or this'll be the most misanthropic animated film of all time. :lol:

Do you mean misogynistic, because of the controversial treatment of Barbara Gordon?

No, I meant misanthropic, although I've heard it called that, too. I find The Killing Joke to be an interesting piece because it's written by someone who clearly is not a fan of the regular superheroes (and he later admitted as much) and there's a real "fuck you! this is what it'd really be like if these people existed!" vibe to the story. I'm not opposed to that, mind you; I think it's a neat experiment even thought I think Moore went overboard (something he also later admitted).

In terms of image, I'm not sure DC wants an animated story where Batgirl is shot, raped, and photographed, where Jim Gordon is tied up in the nude by clown dwarfs in kink outfits (and he is also possibly raped, but it's a little more ambiguous, and where Batman, maybe, chokes the Joker to death. So I'm guessing it'll be toned down.
 
these direct to video movies have become increasingly violent. i'm not surprised they chose to adapt this story.
 
I'm super excited for this, its one of the top stories I've wanted to see adapted. Hopefully we'll get Hamil and Conroy reprising their roles.
 
In terms of image, I'm not sure DC wants an animated story where Batgirl is shot, raped, and photographed, where Jim Gordon is tied up in the nude by clown dwarfs in kink outfits (and he is also possibly raped, but it's a little more ambiguous, and where Batman, maybe, chokes the Joker to death. So I'm guessing it'll be toned down.

As Saga says, these movies are designed to be PG-13 and are much more violent and adult than WB's TV animation. (Although it's violence without consequences, totally gratuitous. I just saw Batman vs. Robin, and there's a scene where Nightwing gets impaled through both arms and both legs, with lots of blood flying -- and it has absolutely no effect on his ability to fight.)

And no, Batman does not choke the Joker to death. That theory has been disproven. And it's a profound misinterpretation of the whole point of the ending.
 
And no, Batman does not choke the Joker to death. That theory has been disproven. And it's a profound misinterpretation of the whole point of the ending.

You have no idea how annoying it is when your posts become condescending just because someone has an interpretation that differs from yours.

The theory has not been disproven because of the script. The script doesn't matter. What's on the page is what's matters and I, and many others, think you can read it as Batman killing the Joker. Even if you think the script should be part of the debate, it still disproves nothing because it could've easily been decided on between Bollard (who still won't say either way what happened) and Moore behind closed doors or after the script was submitted.

As far as the second piece you linked to, you might want to check out the title where it says "Opinion" instead of "The One True Reading." Now, I'm not against reading it as Batman and the Joker laughing, but I also think it can be read as Batman killing the Joker and that's the one I prefer. More than one reading of a text can exist at once; it's what makes art interesting.

The fact that Grant Morrison agrees with me? Well, that's just a bonus. :lol:
 
these direct to video movies have become increasingly violent. i'm not surprised they chose to adapt this story.

That is true.

I'm just hoping that its a faithful adaptation and true to the tone. I understand its one of the darkest Batman chapters, but it could be one of the best if done right in animation.
 
How was it supposed to be batman killing the Joker when the story was actually in continuity at the time, and Joker was alive and well after the story? I'm also pretty sure the story was written specifically to be in continuity, not an elseworlds story that got put into main canon at the time, so obviously the intent wasn't that Joker was dead. I mean, maybe Alan Moore had it in his head that the scene was meant to represent that (although evidence seems to go against that), but from DC's perspective nothing in The Killing Joke was ever meant to imply that Batman killed Joker.

As for the movie adaptation, Barbara getting shot they'll easily allow, in Flashpoint they showed characters getting shot a lot worse, and they also had a decapitation. They might change a bit of the naked Commissioner Gordon stuff, but a lot of the story will probably easily conform to how much they currently allow the animated movies to show.
 
And no, Batman does not choke the Joker to death. That theory has been disproven. And it's a profound misinterpretation of the whole point of the ending.

You have no idea how annoying it is when your posts become condescending just because someone has an interpretation that differs from yours.

Look at the first link. It's in the actual script. It has nothing to do with my interpretation -- I have no dog in this fight. I'm simply passing along the established facts. The facts are not about me. They are documented and on record; I simply happen to be aware of them and I am passing them along for your edification. I have no idea why you think that has anything to do with me. I'm just the messenger in this case.
 
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And no, Batman does not choke the Joker to death. That theory has been disproven. And it's a profound misinterpretation of the whole point of the ending.

You have no idea how annoying it is when your posts become condescending just because someone has an interpretation that differs from yours.

Look at the first link. It's in the actual script. It has nothing to do with my interpretation -- I have no dog in this fight. I'm simply passing along the established facts. The facts are not about me. They are documented and on record; I simply happen to be aware of them and I am passing them along for your edification. I have no idea why you think that has anything to do with me.

And it's apparent you didn't read the rest of my post because I explained why the script is irrelevant.

If you have no dog in this fight why do you feel the need to tell me that what I have is a "profound misinterpretation?" If you don't want your post to be read as condescending then don't write them like that.
 
wow they keep getting darker and darker! I would love something more light harted like Superman vs the flash or a JSA/JLA Team up story from the 60's! by the way any know what the other 2 movie from next year are? :) thanks
 
I will say, as much as I like Batman, I wouldn't mind seeing other characters get some attention.
 
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