Threat aimed at ‘Joker’ movie prompts costume, face paint bans

Seven years ago in Aurora, Colorado, something horrific occurred.

During a packed showing of The Dark Knight Rises, a movie based on a popular series within the Batman universe, a disturbed young man named James Holmes entered a movie theater and opened fire.  By the time he was finished, twelve innocent people had lost their lives and another seventy were left injured.

Soon, movie theaters the nation over were taking incredible precautions as it pertained to that film, and the nation was again thrust into a debate over how best to balance the threat of mass shootings with the impermeable realities of the Second Amendment.

Now, a dozen years removed from that terrifying scene, another threat has been leveled at another Batman film.

This time, authorities are taking no chances.

If you’re looking to dress up as your favorite Batman villain next weekend, you may need to double-check which theater you’re going to. Landmark Theatres has confirmed they are banning costumes, face painting and masks when the new “Joker” movie hits screens.

Controversy has surrounded the movie ahead of its Oct. 4 premiere as many, especially families of mass shooting victims, are concerned it could incite violence.

In a statement to CBS 11 News, Landmark Theatres would only say, “We don’t comment on anything to do with operating procedures, but we are not allowing costumes, face painting or masks by either our employees or guests.”

One military division has already warned law enforcement about the potential for violence during the screenings of “Joker” after extremists posts were apparently sent through social media.

A group of survivors from the 2012 Aurora shooting have urged Warner Bros., producers of Joker, to be cautious with the depictions of violence they’ve chosen to include in the film.

The movie will come to theaters on October 4th, 2019.