Theaters Ban 'Joker' Cosplay As Military Issues Warning About Potential Violence At Screenings

Landmark Theaters are not joking around when it comes to making its guests feel safe at upcoming Joker screenings.

For the sake of security, the movie theater chain is prohibiting moviegoers — and employees — from wearing masks, face paint, and even costumes for the October 4 release of the movie starring Joaquin Phoenix.

CEO Ted Mundorff told TMZ:

“We are not allowing costumes, face painting or masks by either our employees or guests.”

Landmark, which operates over 50 theaters in 27 markets across the US, is one of several big theater chains to make precautions for the Todd Phillips-directed anti-hero flick, which has been getting backlash for having the potential to inspire mentally unwell individuals to commit mass shootings.

As we reported, family members of some of the victims of the 2012 Aurora, CO shooting that occurred during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises sent a letter to Warner Bros. expressing concerns with Joker, seeing as the shooter had dyed his hair orange and reportedly told police to call him “The Joker” after killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.

The Aurora families argued that presenting the mass murdering Batman villain “as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story” was potentially dangerous, especially since the character was also “a socially isolated individual who felt ‘wronged’ by society.”

The letter asked WB to accompany their release by financially supporting stricter gun laws, noting:

“Since the federal government has failed to pass reforms that raise the standard for gun ownership in America, large companies like Warner Brothers have a responsibility to act.”

The studio responded by saying it’s already taking steps to address the gun violence epidemic, insisting Joker is not meant to portray the titular character as a hero, nor is it an endorsement of violence.

But at least one theater isn’t taking any chances: the Century Aurora and XD — the remodeled theater where the 2012 shooting took place — will not be showing the film at all.

Meanwhile, the military is preparing for the worst. The US Army confirmed on Tuesday a warning was issued after social media posts related to people called “incels” (“involuntary celibate” individuals) were discovered by FBI officials.

In the alert emailed to service members, military officials claimed incels “idolize the Joker character, the violent clown from the Batman series, admiring his depiction as a man who must pretend to be happy, but eventually fights back against bullies.”

A separate memo issued on Monday by senior officials stated the Army had obtained “credible” intelligence from Texas law enforcement officials regarding “disturbing and very specific chatter” on the dark web about “the targeting of an unknown movie theater during the release.”

Stay safe out there, Perezcious moviegoers… and keep your Joker makeup at home.

[Image via Warner Bros.]