After one screening of the LGBT-centered Batman universe movie The People’s Joker, it was removed from TIFF. The Toronto Film Festival organizers confirmed the news that Vera Drew removed her film due to “rights issues.” People who had purchased tickets were emailed to handle their ticket situation. DC or Warner Bros. did not comment, but it was likely a move to protect its IP over copyright infringement.
Drew tweeted (seen below) that people will see her movie eventually. She did not go into details as her team wanted her to “say nothing,” but told people to “stay tuned” and that the filmmaker needed the “help” of people who wanted to see the film. The tweet also gives a look at her with her Joker-styled makeup.
The People’s Joker Drew wrote and directed the film, which she also starred in. She played “an aspiring clown” dealing with her identity while fighting a “fascistic caped crusader.” UTA represented the film, which landed the film festival screenings. The only screening was at the Midnight Madness section. More screenings were planned, but those were all closed.
The People’s Joker removed from TIFF after one screening
I have no clue how today goes and my team wants me to say nothing of course so I’ll stay vague…but whatever happens in the next few hours, I want you to know…if you’ve been waiting and aching to watch our movie, ur going to get to soon. Stay tuned and stay with me. Need ur help pic.twitter.com/RcFIWYsUFi
— Vera🃏 (@VeraDrew22) September 13, 2022
While the director seems hopeful that there will be another way outside of TIFF that The People’s Joker will be viewable. While acknowledging its unlicensed status, she believed it would be legal to release. Since Warner Bros. disagreed, it leaves its fate to be likely buried unless the filmmaker gets creative or can convince the studio to let her release her film that took a different direction in a Joker origin story. Although, having a movie about the villain was not favorable for Warner Bros. as the studio has Joker: Folié à Deux, the musical sequel to the 2019 film with Joaquin Phoenix, that will also star Lady Gaga. The film is set for an October 2024 release.
