There is a possibility that the part of the Joker that Mark Hamill played in Batman: The Animated Series would not have been created without Michael Keaton's performance as Batman.
Hamill stated in a recent interview that the controversy that surrounded Keaton's hiring as Batman helped him feel more secure when he was trying out for the role of the Joker.
When it was announced that Keaton would be playing Batman, there was a tremendous uproar, and many people questioned his ability to portray the character. Hamill recalled how people had underestimated Keaton's talent by criticizing him before they had even seen him perform. Hamill was under the impression that if they were prepared to cast Keaton, then there was no way they would consider him, Luke Skywalker, for the role of the Joker. As a result, he went into the audition in a calm and collected frame of mind.
According to Hamill, actors typically experience performance anxiety at auditions because they are incredibly motivated to land the role for which they are auditioning. In this particular instance, however, Hamill was under the impression that he would not be cast in the role; hence, he did not experience any feelings of pressure and instead simply enjoyed performing his interpretation of the Joker. Even as he was leaving the audition, he was under the impression that his Joker impression was the very best they would ever hear, despite the fact that he believed they would not cast him.
Hamill was taken aback when he was offered the part of the Joker in the end, and his demeanor underwent a profound shift as a result. He acknowledged that he was experiencing feelings of exhaustion and thinking, "Oh no, I can't do this!" Despite this, he accepted the task head-on and found that taking on the role of the Joker was immensely rewarding.
According to Hamill, the lunacy of the Joker is what makes the role intriguing and never boring, and he is grateful for the opportunity to represent a villain that causes devastation wherever he goes.
The community of Batman fans has expressed a lot of appreciation for Hamill's portrayal of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. It is widely acknowledged that his take on the Joker is one of the most compelling renderings of the character. Over the years, Hamill has continued to provide the voice of the Joker for a variety of projects. These projects include the animated film Batman: The Killing Joke as well as the Batman: Arkham video game series.
Both he and Kevin Conroy, the actor who portrayed Batman as the Joker in the animated series, reprised their roles in the video games. He had a good working relationship with Kevin Conroy. Hamill has stated his profound admiration and devotion for Conroy, adding that Conroy was one of his favorite people and that he loved him like a brother. Sadly, Conroy passed away in November. Hamill has expressed his deep admiration and regard for Conroy.
Do you love this connection for one of the greatest Batmen creating one of the greatest Jokers in real life? Will you be going to watch Keaton reprise his Batman role? Let us know in the comments!