Mark Hamill’s connection to the character of Joker is legendary, yet it almost never happened due to the backlash surrounding Michael Keaton’s casting as Batman. During the late 1980s, the announcement that Keaton would star as Batman stirred significant controversy among fans who doubted his suitability for a darker superhero role. This hesitation in the fan community made Hamill doubt his chances of landing the Joker role, although he ultimately changed the voice acting landscape for the character over the next thirty years. The controversy over Michael Keaton Batman casting backlash nearly prevented one of the most beloved Joker portrayals from coming to life.
Hamill’s Early Struggles and Rise in Voice Acting
Before becoming known as the definitive Joker voice, Mark Hamill struggled to land substantial live-action roles, despite his famous part as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga. While his co-star Harrison Ford rapidly secured numerous starring roles, Hamill found more consistent success through voice acting. His three decades voicing the Joker in multiple Batman animated series and video games solidified his status, even though Hamill initially believed he was unlikely to be chosen for the villainous role. After the passing of longtime Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, many feared that Hamill’s time as Joker might also be over.
Hamill’s Perspective on Returning as Joker After Kevin Conroy’s Death
Recently, while promoting his role in the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, Hamill addressed the possibility of returning to voice Joker again. According to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he has not been informed about any plans involving him reprising the part. However, his willingness to return partly depends on Kevin Conroy’s involvement as Batman. Hamill explained,
“When they’d asked [about a new project], ‘Do want you to do the Joker?’ My only question was, ‘Is Kevin doing Batman?’ If he’s in, I don’t even have to read it. I don’t know whether they’ve tried to get me back, but my agent would know. But not to my knowledge.” —Mark Hamill, Actor
This statement leaves the door open for potential future roles, but Hamill respects the legacy Conroy left behind and considers his participation essential before committing to any new Joker portrayal.
The Audition Experience That Shaped Hamill’s Joker
Mark Hamill has shared how difficult it was to imagine himself as the Joker when he first auditioned. The fan backlash to Michael Keaton’s casting left him doubting the possibility that he, known widely as Luke Skywalker, could take on such a menacing and chaotic character. Hamill recalled,
“It was right after they announced that Michael Keaton was cast as Batman, and the fan community freaked out, ‘Oh, he’s Mr. Mom. He’s a comic actor.’ So even though I really wanted the part, I thought, ‘If they freaked out about Mr. Mom being Batman, how are they going to feel about Luke Skywalker being the Joker? There’s no way I’m going to get this!’” —Mark Hamill, Actor
Despite his doubts, Hamill approached the audition with a relaxed confidence that ultimately helped define his Joker voice and personality. He described,
“And because I believed that, I was completely calm and relaxed. I just let it rip. I drove out of the parking lot really cocky: ‘Top that, try to find a better Joker than that.’ People didn’t even believe it was me. They thought it was treated or sped up or who knows what. But it was a fundamental reason I got so many interesting roles in voiceover.” —Mark Hamill, Actor
This mix of confidence and detachment allowed Hamill to transform the Joker into a unique force on-screen, influencing all subsequent portrayals of the character in animation and gaming.
Hamill’s Evolving Career and the Future of Joker’s Voice
Since establishing himself as the voice of Joker, Mark Hamill has expanded his career into new live-action roles, appearing in films like The Life of Chuck and series such as The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix. His latest project, The Long Walk, has garnered attention but fans remain hopeful for a return to the Joker role, especially given the legacy established alongside Kevin Conroy. The intersection of Michael Keaton Batman casting backlash and Hamill’s own skepticism almost changed the course of the Batman franchise’s animated universe, but the tides might still shift if new projects involving these iconic roles emerge.
As this long-running saga continues, the question remains whether Hamill will once again lend his voice to the Clown Prince of Crime, honoring both his legacy and the spirit of the characters that have defined generations of fans.
