With the long-awaited animated adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke now just a little over a month away from release, voice actor Kevin Conroy has been speaking to DC All Access about reprising the role of The Dark Knight, expanding the source material for a feature length movie, and working once again with his Batman: The Animated Series co-star Mark Hamill.
“I like to think I never left the voice of Batman,” said Conroy. “I’ve been doing it for 24 years. What’s wonderful about it is getting back in the booth with Mark Hamill, because that Batman-Joker relationship, it’s almost like Joker defines Batman and Batman defines Joker, it’s the dark and the light, and sometimes it feels like either of us wouldn’t exist completely without the other, and Mark and I work so well together… I could never do what Mark does, because Mark becomes Joker. I wish the audience could see him in a booth. His face is like rubber, and um, he’s just like Jim Carrey you know, he just becomes the character, he’s like devouring the microphone and when I’m doing Batman I get dark and broody you know. It’s weird how we both inhabit the characters when we’re in the room. It’s kind of fun.”
SEE ALSO: Batman: The Killing Joke to receive UK theatrical release in July
“They’ve actually expanded it a bit, they’ve expanded some of the story a bit. There’s much more of Batgirl in this, um, so that plotline is more developed, and the struggle, the internal struggle that Batman has, that Bruce Wayne has in wrestling with the demons in the Joker is much more explored. There are a couple of really wonderful scenes that I have with Mark that I’m really proud of.”
Based on the acclaimed graphic novel of the same name, Batman: The Killing Joke takes a journey into the dark psyche of the Clown Prince of Crime – from his humble beginnings as a struggling comedian to his fateful encounter with Batman that changes both of their lives forever. Years later, and now escaped from Arkham Asylum, The Joker devises a plan to prove that one bad day can make anyone as insane as he is – setting his sights on Commissioner Gordon. It’s up to the Dark Knight to put a stop to The Joker’s latest scheme and save one of Gotham City’s finest. Following a gripping prologue introducing Barbara Gordon’s heroic adventures alongside Batman as Batgirl, Batman: The Killing Joke stays true to the authentic tale that has held fans’ imaginations for nearly three decades – spotlighting the birth of a Super-Villain, the fortitude of a Super Hero and the punchline that will leave you speechless.
Batman: The Killing Joke is set for release on Digital HD on July 26th and will hit Blu-ray and DVD on August 2nd.
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Via Comic Book
Originally published June 24, 2016. Updated November 29, 2022.
