Mark Hamill is already well-versed in the Batman franchise due to his iconic voiceover of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. However, getting the Clown Prince of Crime role was not an easy feat as the actor had to fill in the role when the animators had already worked on some of the episodes.
He’s undoubtedly the best Joker in the animated world, which would make one naturally interested in how he landed the role in the first place. His audition story is quite intriguing which would spark a desire among fans to see him portray the character in live-action.
Mark Hamill Had Big Shoes to Fill in for Joker in Batman: The Animated Series
In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, voice and casting director Andrea Romano, who enlisted the actor as Joker in Batman: The Animated Series reflected on his DC journey. Before the former, the DC series had already cast the voice actor for the antagonist however it all went to shambles when a new producer came on board.
Romano shared with the outlet,
“A new producer came on to the series, didn’t care for The Joker we had cast, and asked us to re-cast it.”
However, they faced a major issue as the animators had “already made six or seven episodes.”
The problem was that whoever would get the gig was going to “have to ADR and match the timing of the previous actor.”
She added,
“Simultaneously, just before this, Mark’s agent had reached out and said, ‘Mark is an enormous comic book fans [sic], a huge fan of Batman, and would love to be part of the series. So, I brought him in as a guest and he did a great job, telling all sorts of fabulous stories to everybody in the room and was wonderful in the role.”
Initially, the actor was brought in as a guest for the initial recording session but he was serious about being a part of the show. She recalled he told her, “Thank you for this gig, Andrea, but I really want to be a part of Batman.” Mark Hamill‘s talent eventually made it into his permanent stint.
Mark Hamill’s Audition Was Everything Batman: The Animated Series Needed at the Time
Romano eventually decided to give him a chance, which was a great decision as his work was “remarkable.”
She shared,
“The auditions for The Joker replacement came up, we gave [Hamill] a shot, and he was stunning! Absolutely remarkable. His timing was right on, he came up with this terrifying voice and an iconic laugh.”
Praising the actor, she added that his work as Joker left a significant impact.
“I think that’s the voice everybody hears when they think of The Joker. Even when they’re seeing on camera performances, they can’t help but reference Mark Hamill in their minds.”
Hamill’s portrayal is surely one of the best in the DC franchise, who can bring the character to the big screen. As the upcoming Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold is already in the slate, focusing on an older Caped Crusader, the studio may consider casting an older Joker for the project.
While Willem Dafoe, known for playing the iconic Green Goblin villain in the MCU, is a popular fan-cast for the DC role, Hamill appears to be in the same league with his spectacular performance.
Batman: The Animated Series is available on Max.
