Mark Hamill Almost Said No To Playing The Joker In Batman: The Animated Series
Mark Hamill is best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" films, but even if you add up all of that character's screen time, the Jedi role is tiny compared to his voice work as the Joker in the DC/Warner Bros. Animation TV series and films. He's been cackling in the scariest (and hands-down best) way since 1992 when he was cast in the role for the Emmy Award-winning animated series "Batman: The Animated Series," which was created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski.
Since that time, we've heard him mess with Batman as the Clown Prince of Crime in animated films, "Superman: The Animated Series," "The New Batman Adventures," "Static Shock," "Birds of Prey," "Justice League Action," and so many others. Like the late, great Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman, Hamill has become synonymous with the role. So it's surprising to hear that Hamill almost said no to the role of the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series."
'How about Two-Face or Dr. Hugo Strange?'
In a 2011 interview with Nerd Reactor, Hamill explained that he wanted to get on the show because he read about it "on the fan press." He called his agent and said he wanted to get on the new Batman series but that he wanted to do a character that's "never been done before." He said:
"I remember that was the one I mentioned. I said, 'How about Two-Face or Dr. Hugo Strange?' just so I wouldn't have to follow Frank Gorshin as the Riddler, or Jack Nicholson as the Joker. That seemed to be a little more dangerous way to go, because people have preconceived notions of how he should sound. But as it turned out, be careful for what you wish for."
It's odd to imagine anyone else voicing that role. In fact, it's unthinkable — for me, at least. I hear that voice and shudder, but in the best way. Even Hamill had to admit that he did a good job when he first tried out. He told the site, "When I auditioned for [the Joker], I remember leaving there, driving away in the parking lot thinking, 'That was the best Joker ever. If they don't hire me, they're crazy! I'm wonderful in this part!'"
It's clear he's being silly, but yes, sir, you are wonderful in this part! He may have known he did a good job, but when his agent called him a week later telling him he got the part, he had some reservations.
'There's no way I can do it to everyone's satisfaction'
Hamill's agent was surprised to hear that the actor was upset about getting the part. Hamill's issue? Fan expectations:
"There's no way I can do it to everyone's satisfaction. Number one, they'll prejudge me because I was Luke in 'Star Wars,' and you know, it just doesn't compute. Number two, everybody's imagined how he sounds. I mean forget about Jack Nicholson if you can. Everybody in their own mind has imagined how he should sound, so I went completely 180 degrees in the other direction. I lost all confidence."
If he wasn't amazing in the role, people might have had a problem adjusting to the change, but they didn't. The great thing about the characters in comic books is that there are a lot of versions out there. You can have Heath Ledger's Joker, Joaquin Phoenix's version, and Jack Nicholson's version co-existing the same way we have different Batmans. Hamill's version was perfect for animation.
It's easy to say that all these years later, but if you're the one delivering the performance, you might not believe it. Hamill told the site that he was "shaking" when he went to do the first recording session. He thought he was doing a bad job. He even said, "I was not thinking clearly. I mean, I was going in there, and I was doing Ross Perot or something. I don't know where I was." In the end, of course, he delivered a legendary performance. His method? Hamill revealed that he approached Joker like a new character "that had never existed before."
"Batman: The Animated Series" is currently streaming on HBO Max.