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Batman: The Killing Joke Gets an Animated Adaptation
By Tim BeedleFriday, July 10th, 2015

Bruce Timm’s latest animated movie, Justice League: Gods and Monsters, had its World Premiere tonight in front of thousands of Comic-Con attendees. But being the very first to see Timm’s radical new take on the Justice League was only one of the treats they received as Warner Bros. revealed the three DC Universe Original Movies that will be released in 2016, including an adaptation of the classic Joker story,  Batman: The Killing Joke.

Batman: The Killing Joke is the seminal graphic novel written by Alan Moore and drawn by Brian Bolland that offers up a potential (but not exactly trustworthy) origin for the Joker, and that led to a paralyzed Barbara Gordon to retire as Batgirl…temporarily. For years, it’s been one of the most regularly requested animated films by fans.

The animated adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke is executive produced by Bruce Timm and will retell this classic tale in an exciting new way. It’ll also feature an original 15-minute prologue that helps set up the story, giving even longtime fans of the story something new to look forward to.

In addition, two other animated movies were announced:

Batman: Bad Blood—An original Batman story that features the introduction of Batwoman to the new line of animated films.

Justice League vs. Titans—Another original story and the first of the DC Universe Original Movies to feature the Teen Titans.

The Killing Joke isn’t the first classic DC graphic novel to be adapted into an animated film. Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One, as well as Darwyn Cooke’s The New Frontier, have also received the animated treatment. However, this seems to be the right year for Batman: The Killing Joke as it’s the Joker’s 75th Anniversary this year.

What do you think of this announcement? Are you looking forward to the movie? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to click here to check out our clip of the Top 7 Sinister Joker Moments, which includes moments from Batman: The Killing Joke.

The Killing Joke is a very dark book.  It's one of the few books that takes Joker to his most cruel and despicable.  I don't have a problem with Joker photographing Barbara or molesting/raping her.  He was trying to break Jim Gordon, and harming Barbara, brutalizing her in the worst possible way, was the correct way to hurt her old man. 

I'm concerned that if they adapt it to a movie that they will shy away from the treatment Barbara received. 

While it might seem to be one more "Woman in a Refrigerator" it works and isn't casual.  I wouldn't be any more opposed to the Joker giving any of the Robins the same treatment in an attempt to get at Batman. 

I also think that Joker should have been executed by the state by now, but that's a whole different topic.

I can't imagine for a moment that they would actually SHOW the Joker at work on Barbara.  I certainly think your "What's suggested is far more horrifying than actually displaying it." is almost universally true for impact. 

Certain violent acts - like rape and murder - happen in real life, and I don't need to have the images burned into my mind.  Just pass on the information if it is integral for the story.  In this case, showing how brutal and deranged the Joker is, it works.