News
News on Batman: The Killing Joke. In most cases a link will accompany each headline back to the original article.
News on the DCAU originates from animation and comic book related news sites, personal staff forums or comic book conventions. Fans beware, in some cases, false news does get spread among the Internet.
Announcements - Conventions - Theatrical Screening - Clips - Home Entertainment Sales
News
Scroll down towards the bottom for the latest updates:
Announcements
June 8, 2015: Bruce Timm has another DTV movie coming out in 2016. SSH Article
July 10, 2015: Movie will be executive produced by Bruce Timm. The classic tale will be retold in a new way. There will be an original 15 minute prologue to set up the main story. DC Comics Blog
July 11, 2015: Sam Liu will direct. CBR Article
July 11, 2015: Tara Strong rumored to be working on movie. CB Article
July 27, 2015: Mark Hamill will allegedly reprise the role of the Joker and has already recorded. Collider Article
July 28, 2015: James Tucker hints he has a minor role in the movie but hopes it is 'memorable'. James Tucker Tweet
October 10, 2015: James Tucker reiterates he is not director of the movie and the rating won't be issued for a long time. James Tucker Tweet
October 10, 2015: James Tucker reiterates he is not producer of the movie. James Tucker Tweet
November 3, 2015: James Tucker confirms he storyboarded on the movie. James Tucker Tweet
February 2, 2016: Jay Oliva confirms he helped out on The Killing Joke and confirms they got animation back from overseas. Machinima YouTube, 26:21-26:33
February 21, 2016: Phil Bourassa shares a Joker design he did for The Killing Joke back in 2009. The underperformance of "Watchmen" in the box office led to the cancellation of the adaptation two weeks into production. Phil Bourassa instagram
March 14, 2016: Mark Hamill posts a still from the movie of Batman and Joker. Mark Hamill Tweet
March 14, 2016: Kevin Conroy voices Batman, Mark Hamill voices Joker, Tara Strong voices Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and Ray Wise voices Commissioner Gordon. The movie will premeire at San Diego Comic Con and release later in the summer. CBR Article
March 15, 2016: Gary Miereanu posts a still of Tara Strong during a recording session. Gary Miereanu Tweet
April 4, 2016: Sam Liu confirms Killing Joke is finished. It was onlined awhile ago. Sam Liu Tweet
April 14, 2016: Film will be rated R. Sam Register states from the start of production, Bruce Timm and the team at Warner Bros. Animation were encouraged to remain faithful to the original story. EW Article
April 15, 2016: Press release posted. The movie was greenlit back in 2013. Toon Zone post
April 20, 2016: Bruce Timm talks about the making of the movie. When it was being made, the crew didn't know if it would be rated PG-13 or R. They never were pressured to tone it down, just to make it how it should be and 'we'll see what happens' but they didn't try to make it more shocking, more as tastefully as possible. The only change made was adding more about Batgirl because it bothered him how she was there in the comic just to be shot and make Gordon and Batman feel bad. It will function as a mini-Batgirl movie before The Killing Joke and explore more about her like her relationship to Batman. ARTS Youtube Bruce Timm Q&A 04:30-06:30
April 30, 2016: Bruce Timm reveals Jon Suzuki is the character designer and animation services were provided by The Answer Studio. He notes several shots in the trailer were definitely slowed down digitally despite his wishes. Toon Zone reply
May 4, 2016: New image released. Brian Azzarello wrote the script. The movie will release digital on July 23. The Blu-Ray and combo set will release on August 2. Special features will be two 22-minute episodes from The New Batman Adventures and Batman: The Animated Series, the deluxe edition and combo pack versions will include two featurettes: Madness Set to Music, a documentary which chronicles the creation of the film's storyboards and original score, and Many Shades of the Joker: The Tale of the Killing Joke, a making-of short that explores the distinct style of the graphic novel. The combo pack comes with a limited edition figurine of the Joker. EW Article
May 12, 2016: Press release details special features. Madness to Music includes a look at the methodology James Tucker used as he storyboarded Brian Bolland's work, explore's Dynamic Music Partners composers/lyricists' creative merging of original music with the poetic words from the graphic novel to provoke the desired feelings and emotions for this critical scene and actor Mark Hamill's physical, devoted performance. Many Shades is a documentary about the artistic process behind The Killing Joke's distinct art style. The DC Vault episodes are 1. The New Batman Adventures' "Old Wounds" and Batman: The Animated Series' "Christmas with The Joker". The digital version will actually come three days early on July 23 on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles. Toon Zone post
May 13, 2016: Dynamic Music Partners confirms they composed the score for the movie. They recorded with several Los Angeles-based musicians that played on the original scores, recorded by Bobby Fernandez, their original engineer, and used the Neve recording console originally installed at Paramount Stage M, the stage where most of Batman: The Animated Series was scored. Photo included of Dynamic Music Partners with crew recording for the movie at The Bridge Studios in November 2015. DMP Blog
May 13, 2016: Gary Miereanu posts a still of the Joker. Gary Miereanu Tweet
May 17, 2016: Trade ad reveals first look at Joker figurine and 76 minute runtime. Toon Zone post
May 19, 2016: Synopsis on iTune listing found. CBR Article
May 20, 2016: Gary Miereanu posts a still of Batgirl. Gary Miereanu Tweet
May 20, 2016: Jay Oliva worked on sequence starring Batgirl. Jay Oliva Tweet
May 31, 2016: Gary Miereanu posts a still of Batman. Gary Miereanu Tweet
June 1, 2016: Interview with Bruce Timm, Kevin Conroy, and Mark Hamill. New stills included. When it first was greenlit, they were going to lower the price to match the shorter length to offset a loss in sales because it would be rated R. But it was shelved when Watchmen underperformed. It was greenlit again, and production started. There were character designs done. The Aurora theater shootings happened and Killing Joke was shelved again. Comments also on it being a dark story, voicing the characters, and it being Joker's origin is the truth or not.. Empire Article
June 4, 2016: James Tucker reveals one of the recently released stills was from the sequence he boarded. James Tucker Tweet
June 21, 2016: A listing of violent scenes in the movie posted. BBFC
July 13, 2016: New still posted of Bonus Brothers ticket. Gary Miereanu Tweet
July 13, 2016: Interview with Dynamic Music Partners. They confirm Mark Hamill will sing a song and talk about the genesis of it. Comic Book Article
July 15, 2016: Full track listed posted along with a preview of the last track, "I Go Looney" featuring Mark Hamill. The soundtrack is on sale July 22. CBR Article
July 15, 2016: New still posted of Batman. Gary Miereanu Tweet
July 22, 2016: Batman and Batgirl will be romantically involved. CBR Article
July 23, 2016: Brian Azzarello and Sam Liu comment on sex scene. CBR Article
July 24, 2016: Interview with Bruce Timm. Vulture Article
July 25, 2016: Write up on the history of the movie's development. Confirms Brian Azzarello wrote the script at least six years ago. Wall Street Journal Article
August 12, 2016: Transcript of cast and crew round tables from Comic Con. Toon Zone Article
August 17, 2016: Kirk Van Wormer posts a sample of storyboards he did. Kirk Van Wormer Tweet
September 6, 2016: Kevin Conroy comments on Batman and Batgirl. Bleeding Cool Article
November 4, 2017: Bill Dunn posts background. Bill Dunn Blogspot
November 4, 2017: Bill Dunn posts background. Bill Dunn Blogspot
November 4, 2017: Bill Dunn posts Batmobile interior. Bill Dunn Blogspot
July 29, 2022: Bruce Timm confirms the earlier version of the movie was a straight up adaptation. The plan was to release a 45 minute film at a reduced price point but the home video people crunched the numbers and decided a full length feature was more preferable so the prequel material was added. Anime Superhero Forum Bruce Timm post
Convention News
January 9, 2016: Bruce Timm confirms movie will be shown at San Diego Comic Con and might release in July, too. Comic Book Article
June 2, 2016: During San Diego Comic Con from July 20 to 24, a limited edition soundtrack will be sold at the La-La Land/Geek Booth at Booth #4536. There will also be a composer signing with Kristopher Carter, Lolita Ritmanis, and Michael McCustion. La La Land Tweet
June 3, 2016: The movie will be screened at San Diego Comic Con on July 22 followed by a panel. Still of Joker and Batman included. CBR Article
June 9, 2016: Mark Hamill confirms he is unable to attend San Diego Comic Con because he is filming Star Wars VIII in England at the same time but he does mention Kevin Conroy will be in attendance. CBR Article
July 8, 2016: The Killing Joke screening and panel at San Diego Comic Con will be on July 22 from 9 pm to 12 am in Ballroom 20. CBR Article
July 8, 2016: The Killing Joke soundtrack signing will be on July 23 from 11 am to 12:30 pm at Booth #4536. Toon Zone Post
July 12, 2016: The San Diego Comic Con Edition, out July 19, of TV Guide Magazine will feature a sneak peek. CBR Article
July 15, 2016: Mark Hamill reads a piece of dialogue from the script during a spotlight panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016. Comic Book.com Article
July 17, 2016: More on Mark Hamill's comments during a spotlight panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 with a video recording included. CBR Article
July 21, 2016: Photo of tech check in Ballroom 20 for screening. Gary Miereanu Tweet
July 22, 2016: Summary of Comic Con panel. CBR Article
Theatrical Screening
June 8, 2016: Batman: The Killing Joke will have a limited theatrical screening on July 25 at select theaters at 7:30 and 10 pm local time. Also being shown with the screenings are a never-before-seen documentary about "how Mark Hamill was cast in this project and what the role means to him as an actor and a fan" before the film screens and a "special behind-the-scenes look at how the Joker's memorable, yet disturbing song and dance number was recreated." Tickets go on sale June 17 at FathomEvents.com. Joker still included. CBR Article
July 7, 2016: The Killing Joke set a new record with Fathom Event. There will be over 1000 theatrical screenings, 300 more than anticipated. Newsarama Article
July 19, 2016: Fathom Events adds second screening on July 26 at 7:30 and 10 pm. Newsarama Article
July 26, 2016: The Monday Fathom screening pulled in $3.175 million in ticket sales. ComicBook.com Article
July 28, 2016: The total sales from both Fathom screenings was $3.8 million in ticket sales. Monday's showings represented the biggest launch ever for an event by Fathom. variety Article
Clips
April 26, 2016: 1:26 trailer released. Yahoo! Movie video
June 23, 2016: 4:46 DC All Access Interview with Kevin Conroy. Batman will explore Joker's inner demons and even tries to "draw out his evil." DC Comics Tweet
July 5, 2016: DC All Access includes a clip from 3:57 to 5:32 featuring Batman going to talk to the Joker in his Arkham cell. CBR Article
July 14, 2016: DC All Access includes feature on Tara Strong. Gary Miereanu Tweet
July 23, 2016: 2:28 Q&A with Brian Azzarello. ComicBook.com Article
July 23, 2016: 3:38 Q&A with Bruce Timm. ComicBook.com YouTube
July 23, 2016: 3:40 Q&A with Kevin Conroy. ComicBook.com YouTube
July 23, 2016: 3:50 Q&A with Sam Liu. ComicBook.com Article
July 25, 2016: 11:16 Q&A with Bruce Timm, Kevin Conroy, Tara Strong and Ray Wise. IGN Video
July 26, 2016: New clip released of Batman confronting Maroni. CB Article
July 29, 2016: 59 second clip of opening released. IGN Video
July 31, 2016: Interview with Ray Wise. GWW Video
August 2, 2016: Recording of roundtable interviews with Bruce Timm and Sam Liu at Comic Con. GWW Video
August 2, 2016: Clip of Joker and Commissioner Gordon. CBR Article
August 2, 2016: Clip of Batman and Batgirl. EW Article
August 9, 2016: Video and transcript of Q&A with Kevin Conroy, Tara Strong, and Ray Wise from Comic Con. CBR Article
August 11, 2016: Recording of cast and crew round tables from Comic Con. Great Big Beautiful Podcast, Extra 11
August 13, 2016: Video and transcript of Q&A with Bruce Timm, Sam Liu, and Brian Azzarello from Comic Con. CBR Article
Home Entertainment Sales
August 13, 2016: The Killing Joke debuted number 1 on new Blu-Ray sales and number 2 on overall sales. Variety Article
