X

It's Batman vs. Joker in the first trailer for the animated 'Killing Joke'

DC Comics fans have plenty to smile about in this animated, R-rated version of the seminal graphic novel.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
See full bio
Richard Trenholm
joker-batman-killing-joke-cover-bolland.jpg
Enlarge Image
joker-batman-killing-joke-cover-bolland.jpg
Brian Bolland/DC Comics

"Why aren't you laughing?!" Batman and the Joker have nothing to smile about in the first official trailer for new film "The Killing Joke".

The animated film is based on the enormously influential 1988 DC Comics graphic novel by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland and John Higgins. The comic sees the villainous Joker kidnap and torture Gotham's top cop, Commissioner Gordon, interspersed with flashbacks to the Joker's origin.

The first glimpse of the animated film appeared earlier this month in a 10-minute featurette in which the creators discuss the art style and new sequences that extend the original story. Several voices and creators of "Batman: The Animated Series" are reunited for the movie, including Kevin Conroy as Batman and Tara Strong as Batgirl. Mark Hamill returns to provide the Joker's demented cackle.

The film will be available on Blu-ray and DVD this summer. Batman and Superman also appear in live-action form this year, in the recent "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and the forthcoming "Suicide Squad".