Warner Bros. Defends Joker After Aurora Taking pictures Victims’ Households Communicate Out

A blockbuster film has discovered itself in the midst of a dialogue about gun security and violence in America.

Earlier at the moment, 5 relations impacted by a 2012 taking pictures in a Colorado film theatre despatched a letter to Warner Bros. expressing concern concerning the upcoming movie Joker.

“We’re the relations and mates of the 12 folks killed on the Century 16 movie show in Aurora, Colorado at a screening of The Darkish Knight Rises on July 20, 2012. This tragic occasion, perpetrated by a socially remoted particular person who felt ‘wronged’ by society has modified the course of our lives,” the letter acknowledged through NBC Information. “Once we discovered that Warner Bros. was releasing a film known as Joker, that presents the character as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story, it gave us pause.”

Whereas they are not asking for the film to be pulled or for moviegoers to boycott, the households and mates of victims are asking Warner Bros. to “finish political contributions to candidates who take cash from the NRA and vote towards gun reform.”

In addition they need Warner Bros. to make use of its political clout to foyer congressional leaders for gun reform and fund survivor funds and gun violence intervention applications.

IMDB, Warner Bros

“Because the federal authorities has didn’t cross reforms that increase the usual for gun possession in America, massive firms like Warner Brothers have a accountability to behave,” the letter acknowledged. “We actually hope that you simply do.”

In response to the letter, Warner Bros. expressed the intention of its upcoming film.

“Gun violence in our society is a important challenge, and we lengthen our deepest sympathy to all victims and households impacted by these tragedies. Our firm has a protracted historical past of donating to victims of violence, together with Aurora, and in current weeks, our mother or father firm joined different enterprise leaders to name on policymakers to enact bi-partisan laws to handle this epidemic,” the studio mentioned in an announcement to NBC Information. “On the identical time, Warner Bros. believes that one of many capabilities of storytelling is to impress tough conversations round advanced points.”

The studio added, “Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker, nor the movie, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any type. It’s not the intention of the movie, the filmmakers or the studio to carry this character up as a hero.”

Ever since profitable the highest prize on the Venice Worldwide Movie Pageant in August, Joker has stirred debate and sparked dialog in Hollywood.

And whereas the present’s star Joaquin Phoenix has remained quiet concerning the debate, he reportedly walked out of an interview when requested if he felt the movie would possibly encourage actual acts of violence.