Batman: The Killing Joke is being turned into an animated movie, as legendary DC animator Bruce Timm announced during the Justice League: Gods and Monsters panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2015 Friday night.
The movie, which is slated for a 2016 release, is an adaptation of the controversial graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland. The graphic novel is an origin story of sorts for the Joker, who has been released from Arkham Asylum once again. He decides to use Commissioner James Gordon and his daughter Barbara, aka Batgirl, in his latest demonstration of what separates the sane from the insane. He does so by shooting and paralyzing Barbara, causing her to temporarily retire as Batgirl — which changes everything for Batman.
Timm – who is responsible for bringing such beloved TV series into the DC Animated Universe as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman and Batman Beyond – will be executive producing The Killing Joke. The film will "retell this classic tale in an exciting new way," according to DC Comics. It will also feature a new 15-minute prologue.
There's no word yet on casting for the animated film adaptation of The Killing Joke, on whether or not beloved Joker voice actor Mark Hamill will return to portray the iconic adversary of Batman. This is something fans have wanted for a while, and as ComicBook.com points out, Hamill tweeted in 2011 that he would in fact return as the Joker if a Killing Joke animated project became a reality.
I'd come back for THAT! Spread the word! Campaign for #TheKillingJoke!! RT: @Cha_Luz #DC lets see #TheKillingJoke Mark said hed voice Joker
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) October 24, 2011
Two other new DC Universe Original Movies were announced at Comic-Con Friday night: Batman: Bad Blood, a Batman original story that will feature Batwoman, and Justice League vs. Titans, another original story that will feature the Teen Titans. Both will be getting the animated-movie treatment in 2016.
This news comes just weeks before the release of the new DC Universe Original Movie Justice League: Gods and Monsters, which Comic-Con attendees saw in the world premiere Friday night. The new animated movie is an alternate history featuring Zod as Superman's father, Batman as the vampiric Man-Bat and Wonder Woman as the daughter of the God of War Ares — as they team up to either save the world or destroy it.
Justice League: Gods and Monsters will be released on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download July 28.
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