The Surprising Story of Mark Hamill as the Joker: How He Almost Missed Out on the Gig
It’s fascinating how Luke Skywalker himself stands out as the definitive voice actor for the Joker — the staggering number of villains Hamill has voiced may surprise even the most devoted fan — considering he initially believed that he wouldn’t get the DC gig. In a May 2023 interview with Wired, Hamill believed he was ill-suited for the role because he had the baggage of leading the original “Star Wars” trilogy. “When I went in, I thought, ‘You think they’re gonna hire Luke Skywalker to play the Joker? The fans will lose their minds,'” he said, adding, “I was so sure that I couldn’t be cast.”
Mark Hamill’s Relaxing Audition: How He Landed the Role of the Joker
Because he genuinely believed that he wouldn’t get the part, Hamill delivered an audition that was free from anxiety. “I was completely relaxed. A lot of times there’s performance anxiety because you want the part, here I knew I couldn’t get the part, so, who cares?” the voice actor said.
Mark Hamill’s Farewell to the Joker: Why He’s Moving On
As fascinating as it would be for fans to see Hamill step into the shoes of a live-action Joker, the opportunity has never arose. And fans shouldn’t wait on it, as he has confirmed that he’s done with the character. In 2022, iconic Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy died. With his partner in crime gone, Hamill is ready to sunset his Joker. “They would call and say, ‘They want you to do the Joker,’ and my only question was, ‘Is Kevin Batman?’ If they said yes, I would say, ‘I’m in,'” Hamill told Empire Magazine. “Without Kevin there, there doesn’t seem to be a Batman for me.”