Batman: The Ones Who Laugh

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***Batman: The Ones Who Laugh*** is an American adult animated superhero film produced by Raydon Animation Studios and DC Entertainment, based on the DC Comics character Batman. The film is separate from the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line and is the first installment in a new animated canon. The film is directed by Chris Palmer and stars the voices of Idris Elba and Steven Yeun as Batman and Robin respectively. The film's title is a reference to both the 2005 Batman comic *Batman: The Man Who Laughs* and the 1869 Victor Hugo novel *The Man Who Laughs*, which served as an inspiration for the character of Joker.

It was previously scheduled to be released on October 23, 2020 and July 2, 2021 before being pushed to September 3, 2021. It was released exclusively on HBO Max.

## Synopsis

*"Vigilantes Batman and Robin take to the streets in this new origin story as the Dynamic Duo must protect Gotham from criminal mastermind the Joker and his accomplice Harley Quinn."*

## Plot

A twenty-eight year-old Bruce Wayne emerges from a small private jet at the Gotham airport where he is greeted by his loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth before being chauffeured in a black Continental. During the drive the two men discuss the previous eight years where Bruce reveals he was training with a shadow organization in Tibet and has returned to finally avenge his parents' brutal murder almost twenty years earlier. They eventually arrive at Wayne Manor and silently enter the stone mansion.

The next night, Bruce attends a stand-up show at the Gotham Comedy Club where one of the performers, Michael Faulker, bombs and is booed off stage. Ashamed and depressed, Michael trudges home to his studio apartment that he shares with his girlfriend Harleen Quinzel, a psychology student at the University of Gotham. When she asks about the show, Michael has a breakdown worrying that his entire life has been a waste. Harleen attempts to console him and reassure that he will hit the big time once the time is right; once he has calmed down she admits that she has run out of money for her tuition and that comedy isn't quite enough. Distraught, Michael swears to find the money no matter the cost and leaves the apartment.

Michael walks through the rain looking for any kind of work when he hears a commotion in an alleyway. He keeps walking when he doesn't see anything. Meanwhile, a tall shadowy figure sits perched on the roof top surveying the streets with a mugger laying on the ground next to him, bloody and battered. The figure watches Michael for a moment before a voice in his earpiece speaks up: "Falcone was just spotted East on Ruby St at Cicero." The figure stands up and is about to leave when the mugger finally musters the strength to speak and simply asks the figure what it is. He hears a deep bass voice answer simply: "I'm the night."

Inside of an old dive bar, a depressed Michael stares longingly into his beer when he overhears a group of men discussing a plan to break into Wayne Tower and rob its vault as an attack on the elite rich of Gotham. Suddenly, the men fall silent as they realize Michael listening and they surround him threatening to "take care" of him when he begins pleading for his life and to let him join them. After explaining how he needs the money, the gang agree to let him in and take him to a discrete warehouse at the Port of Gotham where they begin planning the specifics of the heist. They present Michael with a rounded red mask and cape to wear as a symbol of their gang and give him the alias of Red Hood. They tell him to keep the hood a secret and they let him return to his apartment while they finalize a few loose ends.

Back at the apartment, Michael hides his disguise in the back of the closet as Harleen sleeps nearby. He begins to chuckle softly staring at the box and quickly runs to the living room to avoid waking Harleen. He sighs deeply and puts his head in his hands in deep contemplation before eventually passing out on the couch. The next morning, Michael awakes to Harleen giving him a kiss and leaving for her final lecture before the exam. Alone, he grabs the disguise out of the closet and tries it on, posing in the bathroom's full length mirror. He's startled back to reality by his phone ringing with an unfamiliar number. Timidly, Michael answers and hears a familiar voice simply say "Tonight" before hanging up. Michael stands stunned momentarily before quietly chuckling to himself.

At Wayne Manor, Alfred Pennyworth walks into the master suite and attempts to wake a groggy Bruce Wayne who begrudgingly gets out of bed only to immediately begin doing pushups. Alfred, unfazed, continues speaking, reminding Bruce of his duties to Wayne Enterprises in addition to his nighttime escapades. Bruce sarcastically thanks him as he walks towards the bathroom to shower and change. He returns in a fitted navy suit and asks Alfred to pull the car around, to which he responds "Which one?"

A yellow Corvette pulls in front of Wayne Manor and Alfred steps out as Bruce climbs in and speeds off towards downtown. He arrives at Wayne Tower and drives to the underground parking structure where he is greeted by the high school-aged attendant. After parking, he takes the elevator straight to the top floor and walks into a conference room where a meeting has already started. Everyone stops talking and turns to face Bruce as he takes his seat at the empty head of the table and silently motions for them to continue.

Back at Michael's apartment, Harleen has returned from class

## Cast

* Idris Elba as Bruce Wayne / Batman
* Steven Yeun as Dick Grayson / Robin
	+ Ryan Potter as young Dick
* Alan Tudyk as James Gordon
* Willem Dafoe as Jeremy Mullins / Joker
* Rachael Harris as Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn
* Morgan Freeman as Alfred Pennyworth

## Production

### Development

Development on the film began in 2016 as a Joker origin script with Raydon Entertainment hoping to acquire the film rights to the character. DC Films and Warner Bros. subsequently announced in August 2017 that a Joker film had entered development without the involvement of Raydon Entertainment. Development on the script nonetheless continued with the project set up at Fanatic Films, a newly formed studio at Raydon dedicated to non-profit fan films.

A new script focused on the origins of Batman and Robin as well as Joker and Harley Quinn was started in May 2018 by studio CEO Brandon Barker with the script being completed by August 2018. Raydon revealed that the film, titled *Batman Broken*, would be animated using machinima and would be filmed inside of *Grand Theft Auto Online*. Assets within the game started being acquired by the studio including a Batmobile, penthouse apartment, yacht, Wayne Enterprises Tower, Batcave and a nightclub, totaling a miniscule $350. The very limited cost in production encouraged Raydon to begin development on a number of sequels and spin-offs.

By spring 2019, Raydon began negotiating with Warner Bros. for the film rights to Batman after a number of cast members dropped out of the fan film. In September 2019, Warner Bros. announced an animated Batman film would be released by Raydon subsidiary Moonlight Pictures in October 2020 as an HBO Max original film.

## Release

The film was released on September 3, 2021 exclusively on HBO Max. It was originally scheduled to be released on October 23, 2020 and July 2, 2021 but was pushed to its current date due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Future

Two sequels are currently in development with *Batman: The Holiday Killer* scheduled to release on October 21, 2022 and an untitled third film currently slated for 2023.