Regal Cinemas has responded to the concerns surrounding Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker hits theaters next week amid rave reviews from critics. However, the upcoming Joker film is said to be extremely dark. So much so, that there have been some concerns with people who have already seen it that Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker may inspire the wrong person. Victims of the Aurora shooting from a screening of The Dark Knight Rises back in 2012 voiced their fears over the message Joker might send out.
Warner Bros. responded to the message from the Aurora shooting victims, standing by Joker, believing that the film itself will not cause violence. Warner Bros. also went on to say that they do not see Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker as a hero. With the film hitting theaters next week, Regal Cinemas will be one of the many theater chains showing Joker to audiences across the country. Regal Cinemas reached out to The Wrap and provided a statement regarding the growing Joker concerns. Here’s what Regal Cinemas said in a statement:
“At Regal, we do not believe the content or the existence of any movie is a cause or a signal for violence. Nevertheless, although we do not comment on security protocols implemented by our theatres at any time, patron and employee safety is our foremost concern. In collaboration with NATO, we are in regular contact year-round with law enforcement so we have information to help make whatever security assessments they deem appropriate at all times.”
Regal Cinemas appears to be in line with what Warner Bros. had to say about Joker. Regal Cinemas’ statement also went on to say that safety is a high priority for people in the theater. Other theater chains besides Regal Cinemas like AMC and Landmark have also issued statements prioritizing safety.
What are your thoughts on Regal Cinema’s response? Will you be seeing Joker in theaters? Sound off in the comments below!
Here is the official synopsis for Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker:
Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.
Directed by Todd Phillips from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver, Warner Bros.’ Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham.
Joker will be released in theaters on October 4, 2019.
Source: The Wrap
