The madness begins.
The first official trailer for the upcoming DC and Warner Bros. animated film Batman: The Killing Joke has arrived.
Check it out below.
This direct to video film is an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name. Written by Alan Moore in 1988, The Killing Joke is one of the most celebrated Batman stories of all time. The graphic novel focuses on Joker attempting to drive Commissioner Gordon insane through various disturbing methods, just to prove any man can succumb to the madness he revels in.
The story is grim and violent, enough so be rated R earlier this month.
The film will be produced by Batman: The Animated Series creator Bruce Timm, and will feature the voice talents of veterans Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as Joker, and Tara Strong as Barbara Gordon, each of whom also voiced the same characters for the animated series. Based off the trailer, the animation style and character designs seem to be a blend of the source material’s illustrations and the famed cartoon.
If the film is anything like the graphic novel (and it sure looks like it), we’re in for an intense, and haunting ride.
Batman: The Killing Joke comes to Blu-Ray, DVD, and HD Digital this summer.