Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker shouldn’t really exist. It’s a miracle of fair use, a trans coming-of-age story wrapped in a copyright nightmare that almost got buried forever after a single screening at TIFF. But beyond the legal drama and the neon-soaked, green-screen aesthetic, the real soul of the movie lives in its performers. The cast of The People's Joker isn't just a list of actors; it’s a massive, sprawling community project featuring alt-comedy legends, underground drag icons, and voice cameos that make you do a double-take.
It’s weird. It’s loud. It’s deeply personal.
The Lead: Vera Drew as Joker the Harlequin
Vera Drew doesn't just direct; she anchors the entire fever dream as Joker the Harlequin. This isn't a Joaquin Phoenix imitation. It’s something much more vulnerable. She plays a version of herself—a trans woman moving to Gotham City to make it in the only legal comedy show in town, UCB (United Clown Bureau).
Honestly, her performance is the glue. Without her sincere narration and the way she portrays the physical discomfort of living a "cis" life early in the film, the whole thing would just be a series of Batman parodies. It’s a meta-commentary on her own transition and her career as an editor for people like Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. She’s funny, but she’s also heartbreakingly honest about the "bad queer art" we sometimes make while trying to find ourselves.
The Supporting Players: From Penguin to Batman
The cast of The People's Joker manages to fill iconic DC roles with people you’d usually see on Adult Swim or at a midnight drag show in Brooklyn.
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Nathan Faustyn as Penguin
Nathan Faustyn plays Joker the Harlequin's best friend and comedy partner. He’s the one who helps her navigate the weird, fascist world of Gotham's comedy scene. His performance brings a necessary groundedness. While the world around them is melting into digital fractals, the friendship between these two feels like a real, messy, supportive relationship between two outcasts.
Kane Distler as Mr. J
This is where things get complicated. Mr. J is the primary love interest, but he’s also a toxic, trans-masculine version of the Joker. Kane Distler plays him with a brooding, chaotic energy that captures that specific "bad boy" allure that usually ends in a therapy bill. It’s a bold choice to have the protagonist dating another version of the Joker, but in the context of the film's exploration of identity, it works.
Phil Braun as Batman
In this universe, Batman isn't exactly a hero. He’s a looming, weirdly sexualized, authoritarian figure. Phil Braun’s Batman is less "The Dark Knight" and more "The Creepy Cop," which fits the film's satire of corporate-owned superheroes perfectly.
The Cameos You Probably Missed
The sheer density of the cast of The People's Joker means you basically have to watch it three times to catch everyone. Vera Drew pulled in favors from the entire world of "weird" comedy.
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- Tim Heidecker: He shows up as a generic, aggressive late-night host who represents the gatekeeping of old-school comedy. It’s the kind of role Tim was born to play—pure, unadulterated "guy who thinks he's the smartest person in the room."
- Maria Bamford: She provides the voice for Joker the Harlequin's mom. If you know Bamford's work, you know how well she handles themes of mental health and family tension. Having her voice the mother adds a layer of surrealist empathy to the character's strained relationship with her parents.
- Scott Aukerman: The Comedy Bang! Bang! creator makes an appearance, further cementing the film's ties to the UCB/Alternative comedy world.
- Bob Odenkirk: Yes, Saul Goodman himself. Odenkirk appears as Bob the Goon. It’s a small role, but it’s a massive stamp of approval for the film’s DIY spirit. Odenkirk has always been a champion of weird, outsider art (remember Mr. Show?), so his presence here feels like a passing of the torch.
Why the Casting Matters for Independent Film
Most movies with this many "names" have a budget of $50 million. The People’s Joker was made on a fraction of that, largely through community support and green screens.
The cast of The People's Joker worked on this because they believed in the message. It wasn't about a paycheck. It was about making a point that these characters—Batman, Joker, Harley Quinn—belong to the public, not just to a board of directors at a major studio. When you see David Liebe Hart (of Tim and Eric fame) pop up, it’s not just a "hey, I recognize him" moment. It’s a signal that this movie is part of a specific lineage of outsider art.
The film uses over 160 different artists for its backgrounds and animations. While we usually focus on the faces on screen, the "cast" of creators behind the scenes is what gives the movie its psychedelic, multi-textured look. One scene might look like a 1990s FMV video game, while the next looks like a hand-drawn cartoon.
The Controversy and the Cast's Loyalty
When Warner Bros. sent that "cease and desist" letter, most casts would have vanished. Hollywood is a small town, and nobody wants to be on the bad side of a major studio. But the cast of The People's Joker stood by it.
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They understood that this wasn't a "fan film" in the traditional sense. It’s a parody. It’s protected speech. By sticking with the project through its years of legal limbo, actors like Faustyn and Distler helped ensure that the film eventually found its way to theaters in 2024.
Navigating the Gotham Comedy Scene
The UCB (United Clown Bureau) in the movie is a direct jab at the real-life Upright Citizens Brigade. The cast includes many people who actually came up through that system, which makes the satire bite even harder.
The movie portrays the "certified" comedy world as a place where you have to follow strict rules to be funny. You have to be "approved" by the gatekeepers. The cast of The People's Joker represents the people who didn't fit into those boxes. They are the improvisers, the drag queens, and the weirdos who were told they were "too much" for mainstream consumption.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Filmmakers
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of this film or if you're an aspiring creator inspired by its DIY success, here are the moves to make:
- Support the Performers: Follow the core cast on social media. Many of them, like Vera Drew and Nathan Faustyn, are active in the indie scene and frequently collaborate on other projects.
- Understand Fair Use: If you're a filmmaker, study The People's Joker as a case study. It’s a masterclass in how to use existing IP to tell a transformative, original story. It’s not about "stealing" Batman; it’s about using Batman as a metaphor for the monolithic structures of society.
- Watch the Credits: Don't skip the credits of this movie. The list of animators and contributors is a "who's who" of the modern underground art scene.
- Seek Out the "Alternative" Canon: To truly appreciate the humor, look into the filmography of the cast of The People's Joker. Watch The Eric Andre Show, On Cinema at the Cinema, and Maria Bamford's Lady Dynamite.
The People's Joker isn't just a movie about a clown. It’s a testament to what happens when a group of talented, dedicated people decide that "permission" is optional. The cast is a reflection of that rebellious spirit, blending high-brow satire with low-brow grit in a way that feels completely new. If you haven't seen it yet, go in with an open mind—and maybe a little bit of face paint.