Directed and co-written by Vera Drew, who also stars in the lead role, ‘The People’s Joker’ is set to make its theatrical debut across the United States on April 5, 2024.
As per SlashFilm, this coming-of-age parody superhero film offers a new and provocative take on Joker, reimagined here as a transgender woman exploring her identity in Gotham. The cast includes Scott Aukerman, Tim Heidecker, Maria Bamford, David Liebe Hart, Robert Wuhl, and Bob Odenkirk.
The film draws heavily from the Batman comics for inspiration and critiques the use of corporate intellectual property in cinema while exploring themes of self-acceptance and self-love. Drew, alongside co-writer Bri LeRose, oversees the film’s narrative with a sense of irony and satire, drawing parallels to internet memes and the Adult Swim series, as noted by critics.
‘The People’s Joker’ Initially Received Controversy
Originally premiering on September 13, 2022, at the Toronto International Film Festival, ‘The People’s Joker‘ encountered immediate controversy due to rights issues, leading to the cancellation of planned screenings.
Despite the issues, including a last-minute withdrawal from TIFF purportedly due to legal pressures from Warner Bros. Discovery, owner of DC Comics, Drew persisted. The film eventually secured a release through Altered Innocence, a distributor known for its support for boundary-pushing content.
‘The People’s Joker’ has already received critical acclaim on the festival circuit, with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes based on the initial reviews.
You can watch the film’s trailer below.
