The degree to which fans of Batman—known as “Batnatics” in circles I’ve just invented—have been waiting for an adaptation of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland‘s seminal work of Joker insanity, The Killing Joke, in some visual format for decades. And later this year, the hotly anticipated R-rated animated version will be released. Still, many fans are lamenting that the story never made it to the big screen…but oh wait! It IS coming to the big screen, in July, for one night only, as a Fathom Event! Now fans can openly weep for there are no more worlds to conquer.
Batman: The Killing Joke, directed by Bruce Timm and featuring the voices of the inimitable Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and Joker, respectively, will be in theaters for one night only Monday, July 25, at 7:30pm and 10:00pm local time in participating cinemas. That means you could, if you wanted, go see it twice in one night like the young, fresh Batnatic you are. Tickets will go on sale for this event beginning June 17, 2016. That’s a Friday, if you’re also a calendar fanatic. A Calanatic? Nah.
Not only will the feature itself be screened, but as per usual for Fathom, some extras will be shown as well, including a special introduction from Hamill plus a never-before-seen documentary about how he was cast in this project and what the role means to him as an actor and a fan. The event will conclude with a special behind-the-scenes look at how the Joker’s memorable, yet disturbing song and dance number was recreated for this feature. Yes, there’s a sweet song and dance number in this very violent Batman story.
Will you join the big screen joke-telling? Let us know in the comments below!
Here are the best Joker stories ever told!
Image: Warner Bros/DC
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow him on Twitter!
