The low-budget DC parody THE PEOPLE’S JOKER will be distributed and released in theaters

The low-budget DC parody film The people’s joker has actually gotten distribution and will get a theatrical release. This comes after the film was pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival lineup just over a year ago over rights issues.

The film is definitely in the gray area when it comes to copyright issues. The filmmakers claim that their film is fair use, and the trailer title even says that “all materials used are fair use, protected by Title 17, U.S. Code 107-118.”

The press release confirming the film’s release date reads: “The people’s joker is in no way created, endorsed by, or affiliated with DC Comics or any of its related companies.” I still don’t know how they get on.

Altered Innocence is the distribution company that acquired the North American distribution rights to the film, which is described as a “parody of the world of queer superheroes in the making.”

The film was directed by Vera Drew, which he also edited, co-wrote and starred in. Drew shared in a statement, “I am absolutely thrilled and honored that Altered Innocence is helping me move the project forward The people’s joker in theaters this spring. This film started as a DIY community project for queer artists, and I made it with my friends to process what it was like to come out as a trans woman working in the film and television industry. It’s been a long road to liberation The people’s joker and find a release plan that is true to the weird, anarchic spirit we had while making it. What better home than in Altered Innocence’s catalog of beautifully gay and deliciously edgy films.”

The people’s joker is “a strange coming-of-age story about Joker Origin” and the official description reads: “In the autobiographically inspired absurdist dark comedy, a painfully unfunny aspiring clown (Vera Drew as Joker the Harlequin) grapples with her gender identity as he unsuccessfully attempts to join the ranks of Gotham City’s only comedy program in a world where comedy has been banned. Joining a ragtag group of rejects and misfits, Joker the Harlequin forms a troupe illegal anti-comedy that puts her on a collision course with the devious masked crusader who controls the city.

The film will feature variations on DC characters including The Penguin, Scarecrow, Riddler, Bane and Harley Quinn, while also appearing in DC locations such as Smallville and Arkham Asylum.

Founder of Altered Innocence Frank Jaffe said in a statement: “Vera Drew has taken her life experiences and traumas to create an entirely new genre of cinema that blurs the lines between documentary, coming-of-age film and parody. We couldn’t be more thrilled to support this bold piece , intelligent and hilarious queer cinema that audiences around the world have fallen in love with.”

Filmed entirely on green screen, the work of over 200 independent, predominantly queer creators, artists, musicians and animators instantly elevates this illustrious film beyond genre pastiche to an overflowing richness of mixed media imagery in 2D, 3D, stop. -movement and other forms of animation.

The people’s joker the cast includes cameos from Tim Heidecker, Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford (from Netflix Big mouth), AND Scott Aukermannwith Lynn Downey (Daisy Jones and the six), Nathan FaustynAND Kane Distler.

David Liebe Hart (Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie), Griffin Kramer (Happy times), Christian Calloway (Twin Peaks: The Return), Brazier Knight, Dan Curry (chief writer for The Eric Andre Show), Cricket Arrison, Eliot Glazer, Sandy Honig, Alec Robbins, Mia Moore Marchant, Phil Braun, Trevor Drinkwater, Daniella Baker, Bambi Bell, Denali Winter, Ruin Carroll, AND Arden Hughes.

The film opens theatrically on April 5 at the IFC Center in New York City. Additional markets and premiere dates will be announced later.