Given the nature of the Joker's torture and the language used in the direct-to-video animated pic, the MPAA has given it an R rating.
- Apr 15, 2016
AceShowbiz - "Batman: The Killing Joke" is not your ordinary comic book movie. The animated film based on Alan Moore comic has received an R rating, the first film in the DC Universe Original Movie franchise to receive such rating and the second home-video after the extended version of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice".
Starring Mark Hamill as The Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman, "The Killing Joke" puts Batman in the hunt for the escaped Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime who attacks the Gordon family to prove a diabolical point mirroring his own fall into madness. In his quest, Joker captures and tortures Batgirl. The comic version, published in 1988, was thought to be a definitive story on the famous villain albeit a misogynistic one.
Back in October last year during NY Comic Con, producer James Tucker revealed that DC had given permission to make the movie rated R. There's currently no plan to make a PG-13 version of the film. The home video will be premiered at this summer's San Diego Comic-Con and debuted in stores shortly.
"From the start of production, we encouraged producer Bruce Timm and our team at Warner Bros. Animation to remain faithful to the original story - regardless of the eventual MPAA rating," Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation & Warner Digital Series, said in a statement to EW. " 'The Killing Joke' is revered by the fans, particularly for its blunt, often-shocking adult themes and situations. We felt it was our responsibility to present our core audience - the comics-loving community - with an animated film that authentically represented the tale they know all too well."
