The controversial The People's Joker has landed a US release date after being pulled from a film festival.
The film, which parodies many characters from the Batman universe, follows a trans female version of Bruce Wayne's most famous foe, the Joker.
It was originally shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, before filmmaker and star Vera Drew cancelled further showings due to copyright issues with the source material.
Now, film distributor Altered Innocence has acquired the film and announced that The People's Joker will be released on April 5.
Related: First look at Joaquin Phoenix in Joker 2 lands as filming begins
The rights to the Batman universe and all of its characters are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which in turn owns DC Comics.
What to Read Next
Warner Bros. has never commented publicly on The People's Joker, but a disclaimer that appears before the movie reads: “This film is a parody and is at present time completely unauthorized by DC Comics, Warner Brothers or anyone claiming ownership of the trademarks therein (eg. ‘Joker,’ ‘Batman, etc.).”
In the film, which is an “absurdist semi-autobiographical dark comedy”, Drew's Joker "grapples with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s sole comedy program in a world where comedy has been outlawed" (via Variety).
Related: Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson's Christmas movie confirms release date
“Vera Drew has taken her own life experiences and traumas to craft an entirely new genre of cinema that blurs the lines between documentary, coming-of-age film, and parody,” said Frank Jaffe, the founder of distributor Altered Innocence.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to champion this bold, intelligent and hilarious piece of queer cinema that audiences around the globe have fallen in love with.”
In a similar statement, Drew said: “This movie started as a D.I.Y. community project for queer artists, and I made it with my friends to process what it was like coming out as a trans woman working in the film and TV industry.
“It has been a long road freeing The People’s Joker and finding a release plan that rings true to the queer, anarchist spirit we had while making it. What better home than among Altered Innocence’s catalogue of gorgeously gay and deliciously edgy films.”
The film has no association with the recent Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix and its upcoming sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, which is set to see Lady Gaga take up the mantle of Harley Quinn.
