'Joker' raises concern for US movie theatre massacre families

Families involved in a 2012 movie theatre mass shooting in Colorado have asked the studio behind 'Joker' to help lobby for gun reform, expressing concern about the film's portrait of a mental breakdown that leads to violence.

In a letter to Warner Bros, the families of some of the victims also urged the company to end any political contributions to candidates who take money from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and to fund gun violence intervention programs.

The letter does not ask for the movie to be withdrawn. But it says, "with great power comes great responsibility. That's why we're calling on you to use your massive platform and influence to join us in our fight to build safer communities with fewer guns."

The letter, seen by Variety and other Hollywood industry outlets, comes before 'Joker,' starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Batman comic book villain, opens in US movie theatres on October 4. Watch the trailer here. 

The movie won the top award at the Venice film festival in September and has won plaudits for its disturbing depiction of a social outcast who wreaks terrifying violence. Box office analysts expect it to take about $70 million-$80 million at the North American box office on its opening weekend. It got an eight-minute standing ovation at Venice Film Festival.

Warner Bros said on Tuesday that it had a long history of donating to victims of violence, including those in the Colorado shooting. The movie studio added in a statement that its parent, telecommunications company AT&T Inc, had recently joined other business leaders in calling for legislation to address the issue of mass shootings in the United States.

"Neither the fictional character Joker nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind. It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero," the statement added.

Twelve people were killed and 70 were wounded in 2012 during a midnight movie theatre showing of 'The Dark Knight,' also about the Joker character, in Aurora, Colorado, by a lone gunman who is now serving multiple life sentences.

"When we learned that Warner Bros was releasing a movie called 'Joker' that presents the character as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story, it gave us pause," said the letter, dated Sept. 23 and signed by five men and women.

One of those signatories, Sandy Phillips, told the Hollywood Reporter in an interview that he feared that even one person who is "on the edge, who is wanting to be a mass shooter, maybe encouraged by this movie. And that terrifies me."

Phoenix and 'Joker' director Todd Phillips have defended the film against suggestions that it may encourage violence.

"I think we all are aware of these issues and we're concerned, and I think that's why we talk about it. I don't think that we can be afraid to talk about it," Phoenix told entertainment website IGN in an interview earlier this week.

Phoenix is next set to star in an untitled drama from acclaimed indie filmmaker writer-director Mike Mills.