Cosplay fun and games are getting the heave-ho for “Joker” screenings at Landmark Theatres.
The chain, which owns 52 theaters in 27 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington, is banning masks, face paint and even costumes for screenings of the much-awaited origin story of Batman’s archenemy, which opens Oct. 4.
The “Joker” policy is spelled out at the bottom of the page for advance ticket purchases on the websites of various Landmark theaters: “We Want All Our Guests to Enjoy The Joker for the Cinematic Achievement That It Is. But No Masks, Painted Faces or Costumes Will Be Permitted into our Theatres. Thank You!”
A Landmark representative contacted late Thursday would not comment on the reason for the policy, including whether it was related to security concerns. She referred to the language on the theater websites.
More: Families of Aurora shooting victims pen letter expressing concerns about ‘Joker’ movie
More: ‘Joker’ producer says movies ‘shake people up,’ spark discussion: ‘You can’t censor that’
Questions about security and the potential for violence at theaters have been raised in connection with the critically acclaimed film, which tracks the growing madness of a mercilessly mocked clown and failed stand-up comic (Joaquin Phoenix) and his turn to violence.
Family members of victims in the 2012 movie-theater mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, wrote about their concerns in a letter sent Tuesday to Warner Bros., the movie’s studio. The shooting, in which 12 people were killed and 70 wounded, took place during the screening of another Warner Bros.-produced Batman-related film, “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Phoenix discusses role: Toronto Film Festival: Playing the Joker ‘wasn’t an easy decision’ for Joaquin Phoenix
Festival honor: Dark ‘Joker’ wins top prize at the Venice International Film Festival
The family members wrote they were given pause “when we learned that Warner Bros. was releasing a movie called Joker that presents the character as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story.”
Earlier this week, an internal Army memo that vaguely warned about a potential mass shooting threat connected to “Joker” raised concerns when it circulated on social media, but Army officials said there was no credible information about a threat and no specific theater was targeted.
See our full coverage of entertainment news
