Press Banned From Seeing Joker as Controversy Grows

If your reading this, you’re likely all-clear to attend the premiere of Joker. However, everyone else in media is going to have to watch it through a telescope.

Warner Bros. Entertainment has held back access to journalists from television and papers for the U.S Joker premiere. The premiere takes place at the TCL Chinese Theatre, allowing only talent, filmmakers and photographers to capture their good side on the premises.

The Joker film has received attention lately regarding the threats of attacks on the screenings. The event will have heavily increased security as a result. The L.A police department will also increase visibility at theatres in the area to deter anything from happening.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson said,

“The safety of our guests is of utmost importance. While we don’t comment on security protocols tied to our events, we are in touch with local law enforcement, as we always are for premieres, to assess security needs at our event.”

The Joker has garnered attention lately from the violence happening around the country. The movie is being criticized by what some think is a glorification of a sociopathic killer. The cast and crew have been defending the film, now it seems they are letting Joker speak for itself.

“A lot has been said about ‘Joker,’ and we just feel it’s time for people to see the film,” a Warner Bros. representative said.

Opening Old Wounds

Joker is not the first time a Batman film property to be been under fire. The 2012 Aurora Dark Knight Rises shooting saw a gunman claiming to be dressed as the Joker shot up a theatre. The theatre where the incident happened is not even playing the Joker movie at all on their screens.

Recently, families of the Aurora victims penned a letter for the Clown Prince’s film by saying, “We are calling on you to be a part of the growing chorus of corporate leaders who understand that they have a social responsibility to keep us all safe.”

“We want to be clear that we support your right to free speech and free expression,” it continues. “But as anyone who has ever seen a comic book movie can tell you: With great power comes great responsibility. That’s why we’re calling on you to use your massive platform and influence to join us in our fight to build safer communities with fewer guns.”

After getting the letter from the Aurora families, Warner Bros. released a statement, around all the talk the film has happened around the film recently.

“At the same time, Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to provoke difficult conversations around complex issues,” the statement read. “Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind. It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero.”

The Todd Phillips directed Joker project is slated for release on Oct. 4th. Check the site soon for the review to see if the film is worth all the hype.

What’s the best comic-based film? Are you worried about attending a Joker screening? What screening would you want the press banned from? Leave your comments!

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