After delivering the definitive Batman with Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm joined forces with Alan Burnett to give the other member of the World’s Finest a similar treatment. Voiced by Tim Daly, Superman: The Animated Series made its debut in 1996, and is often considered the definitive onscreen portrayal of the character, only next to Christopher Reeve.
But despite its success, Daly wasn’t brought back to voice Clark Kent in Justice League Unlimited, and The Sopranos star had a pretty good idea about why it was the case.
WB Was Not Thrilled by Tim Daly’s Risqué Joke
Despite being the definitive voice of Superman to many, Tim Daly wasn’t asked to return in the succeeding DCAU shows to reprise his part, and per the actor, it might’ve to do with one joke. Speaking with Comic Book Central, he recalled the time he was interviewing Al Roker after a recording session and made a risqué joke about his grunting noises during the fight scenes.
Daly said:
“I said, well, a lot of it is just these fighting sequences where I make these grunting, straining, groaning noises. And I said, come to think of it, it’s a little disconcerting to think the children of America have a pretty good idea what I sound like in bed.”
While Roker was in stitches after the joke, this sort of joke was a complete no-no in WB’s book, which prompted them to send a letter to Daly expressing their displeasure. The actor, who obviously meant no harm with his joke, recounted apologizing for it.
He recalled:
“‘I said, ‘I’m so sorry, you know, I just, I was, it –- it was a joke, and I didn’t mean it that way, I don’t want to offend anybody,’ but there is a kernel of truth there.”
Although this might be the probable reason behind WB’s decision to not bring him back for Justice League Unlimited, the Finestkind star did get to reprise his role in 2009’s Public Enemies.
Tim Daly Hopes He Can Play Superman Once Again
Even though it has been over a decade since the actor last voiced the last son of Krypton, Daly hopes he can return as Clark Kent once more. Considering much of “entertainment has gravitated towards darkness”, the Wings star expressed his desire to see a hopeful and fun Superman return.
He told Comicbookmovie.com:
“I’m hoping desperately that I can return as the character. It’s interesting. I’m going to say something and I don’t want this to be taken wrong because I think Batman is a wonderful character, but it seems like so much entertainment has gravitated towards darkness. Superman, after all, started as a comic book. That implies it’s all fun, and what I love about Superman and one of the reasons I hope he makes a resurgence is that he is or has been or should be all good.”
While it can’t be said if the new regime would be inclined towards bringing Daly back for more Superman, at least, we’re set to witness a traditional Clark Kent return in James Gunn‘s Superman.
Superman: The Animated Series is available to stream on Max.
