Joker to Star in His Own Take on Batman: The Animated Series

In the 1993 episode of Batman: The Animated Series titled “The Man Who Killed Batman,” an ordinary criminal appears to take down Batman by shoving him into an exploding gas tank. The Joker, however, is skeptical and decides to stage a museum heist to see if Batman will intervene. When Batman fails to show, the Joker returns the stolen items, lamenting, “Without Batman, crime has no punchline.” This intriguing premise is being adapted into a new adult animated series, revealed at the Annecy Festival on June 24.

In Joker: Laugh Riot, Batman is indeed killed, prompting the Clown Prince of Crime to embark on a relentless quest through Gotham’s underbelly to uncover his murderer. The Joker shifts from villain to vigilante, grappling with his identity in the absence of his greatest foe. He might even draw inspiration from the Joker in Harley Quinn, who once stepped away from crime to become Gotham’s mayor. Yasuhiro Aoki, known for Batman: Gotham Knight and ChaO, is directing the series, with Jim Krieg, writer for Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, serving as executive producer.

While no timeline or network details have been shared for Joker: Laugh Riot or Absolute Batman, an adult animated series based on Scott Snyder’s acclaimed comic series, Batman enthusiasts have much to anticipate. Batman: Caped Crusader season 2 is set to stream on Prime Video starting July 31, and Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall is scheduled for release later this year.

Additionally, there are several other DC animated projects in the works, including the My Adventures with Superman spin-off, My Adventures with Green Lantern, a Mister Miracle series, and an untitled kids’ show centered around the superpowered pup, Krypto.