Earlier this year came word that Warner Brothers Home Entertainment were developing an animated movie based on Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke, a book which is often considered the very best Joker tale of all time. Now it looks as if there’s a chance that the film could end up R-rated.

Producer James Tucker was speaking at the NYCC panel for Batman: Bad Blood when he reportedly said that DC has given permission for the animated adaptation of this famed Joker story to be R-rated. Although he also added that this doesn’t necessarily mean that the film will be R-rated.

Additionally, Tucker himself took to Twitter after the panel to clarify the situation, saying, “Never fails that I get misquoted at a con! I’m not directing ‘Killing Joke’ and what rating it gets won’t be decided for a long time.”

Tucker is certainly correct in that the rating for the film won’t be decided for a fair while yet, with the film itself set to arrive at some point next year.

For those not familiar with The Killing Joke, it sees The Joker at his most sadistic. As well as serving as an origin of sorts for Mr J, we also see the Clown Prince of Crime cripple Barbara Gordon and torture Jim Gordon. If ever a comic book adaptation could be well-served by an R-rating, this is it.

The legendary Bruce Timm, known for developing the stunning Batman: The Animated Series amongst various other fantastic animated efforts, is to executive produce The Killing Joke, which is to feature a completely original 15-minute prologue that will help to lead in to the main story of the film.

Batman: The Killing Joke is one of three DC-based animated efforts to be confirmed for next year, with Batman: Bad Blood and Justice League vs. Titans both set for 2016 as well.