‘People’s Joker,’ Queer Comic Book Parody Pulled From TIFF Over Copyright Issues, Sets U.S. Release
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “The People’s Joker,” a queer comic book parody that garnered headlines after getting axed from the Toronto Film Festival lineup, is heading to the big screen.
Los Angeles-based distributor Altered Innocence acquired the film, which will open in theaters on April 5. Vera Drew directed “The People’s Joker,” which was slated to play in 2022 at TIFF.
However, the filmmaker canceled the planned screenings after its Midnight Madness premiere, citing copyright issues with the material.
Warner Bros. Discovery owns DC Comics and holds the rights to the Batman universe but has never commented publicly on “The People’s Joker.” A title card before the movie states, “This film is a parody and is at present time completely unauthorized by DC Comics, Warner Brothers or anyone claiming ownership of the trademarks therein (eg. ‘Joker,’ ‘Batman, etc.).” Described as an “absurdist semi-autobiographical dark comedy,” “The People’s Joker” stars Drew as a painfully unfunny aspiring clown called Joker the Harlequin.
