Concept art of a 2009 cancelled movie attempts an adaptation to Alan Moore's iconic "Batman: The Killing Joke" has recently been revealed online by DC Entertainment concept artist Phil Bourassa. Along with the revealed concept art, Bourassa hinted that the new project for "Batman: The Killing Joke" might be rated R.
Bourassa stated that the 2009 project, which was to be directed by "Batman: The Animated Series" director Bruce Timm, was cancelled mainly due to the poor reception of the film "The Watchmen" received, Comic Book reported. The artist goes on to state that the team was maybe two weeks into the project when DC pulled the plug.
However, Bourassa states that DC has since given the film a green light due to the surging interest in comic book-based films, Screen Rant reported. According to Bourassa, "Batman: The Killing Joke" is not necessarily going to be rated R, but considering the content the film will probably have, an R rating is very likely.
The 1988 graphic novel told several stories which delved into the back story of Batman's most famous villain, the Joker. The novel touches on the fact that the Joker was not always Gotham City's clowned prince of crime, and actually, he was just a normal everyday family man whose life took one too many wrong turns.
The story is also very famous for the shooting of daughter of Commissioner Gordon, Barbra Gordon, being shot in the stomach leaving her paralyzed. Barbra had been acting as Batgirl at the time, and her shooting left her character in a wheelchair for years to come.
After Batman tracks and confronted Joker about his actions, he gives him one last chance to redeem himself; however, Joker declines the offer and tells Batman a joke about two criminals and how they betrayed each other during a jail break. Batman chuckles and puts his hands on Joker's mouth, and then the novel ends with Joker being silent.
Fans do not know what happened to Joker after the novel. However, Batman scribe Grant Morrison states that Batman killed Joker in the end, and that is why the novel was titled "The Killing Joke."
The new animated film will be starring veterans of the "Batman: The Animated Series," Mark Hamill as the Joker, and Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Hamill has officially come out of retirement to voice the Joker after the video game "Batman: Arkham City."
Check out Grant Morrison's theories on "Batman: The Killing Joke" here: