Mark Hamill’s interpretation of the Joker is the definitive version of the character in the hearts and minds of many fans, but it appears he has some doubts that he’ll ever return to the role again. Hamill exploded onto the scene as Luke Skywalker in 1977’s Star Wars (now subtitled Episode 4: A New Hope). His career remained steady in the following years, nabbing small and large roles in several films. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that he landed the other part he’s best known for when he replaced Tim Curry as The Joker in the classic Batman: The Animated Series, eventually returning to the role for the beloved Batman: Arkham Asylum video game and its sequels.
Hamill’s portrayal of the Joker is so memorable that many might misconstrue how often Hamill appeared in The Animated Series. He voiced The Joker in only 15 episodes before appearing in a smattering of DC Comics animated projects, including Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and Justice League. In 2009, Hamill was once again paired with Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne in The Animated Series, in Rocksteady’s ArkhamAsylum, a video game that at the time of publication is the 117th best-reviewed game on Steam out of the over 50,000 titles available in the shop. Hamill voiced The Joker in two sequels developed by Rocksteady and the series spawned a handful of spinoffs.
Hamill has made various statements that alluded to his retirement from his iconic interpretation of The Joker in the past, some of which he contends were more misquotes than actual declarations of retirement. But his recent comments seem more definitive. In an interview with Empire Magazine, Hamill explained that Conroy’s recent passing after a battle with cancer gives him little reason to return. He compares their partnership and chemistry to the influential comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, who rose to prominence in the 1930s. He added that there were times when he was offered the chance to reappraise the role but would not accept unless Conroy was playing Batman. Conroy's final performance as Batman will be in Rocksteady's upcoming and long-awaited Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.
If Hamill is officially done playing the Joker, he’ll leave behind a sterling legacy. His portrayal of the character, both on animated TV and in games, is often spoken in the same breath as iconic live-action interpretations from such silver screen heavyweights as Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and most recently Joaquin Phoenix in 2019's Joker, which has a sequel currently in production. Ledger and Phoenix both won Academy Awards for their performances. Even still, Hamill’s portrayal stands atop the rest in the eyes of many fans despite the prestigious accolades heaped upon other stars who’ve brought the comic book character to life.
Should this be the end of his run as The Joker, Hamill’s final portrayal of the character in any media could be in MultiVersus, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Super Smash Bros.-like fighting game. Rumors of Hamill’s return as the Joker in MultiVersus have been circulating since September of 2022. Dataminers claim to have discovered recorded dialogue that sounds an awful lot like Hamill’s interpretation of the character buried in the game’s code.
Source: Empire Magazine (via Screen Rant)
