“We were like Laurel and Hardy”: Mark Hamill Refused To Reprise Iconic DC Role After Kevin Conroy’s Death
Hollywood legend Mark Hamill, who is famously known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, is also admired for his equally iconic DC role as Joker. Although the actor gave a voiceover for his DC role in the Batman: The Animated Series, Hamill fans hail him for his exemplary Joker laugh.
After serving as a benchmark for all future adaptations of Joker to come, fans of Mark Hamill hoped to hear more of the actor. However, during a recent interview, Hamill saddened his fans after revealing his decision to never come back to reprise his role as the Joker.
Also read: “I don’t want Luke Skywalker in this film”: $51.8B Star Wars Movies Almost Sank Mark Hamill’s Career
Mark Hamill Puts An End To His Iconic DC Role
Although Mark Hamill achieved his global fame through the Star Wars franchise as Luke Skywalker, the actor was famously known for his just-as-iconic performance as the DC villain Joker. Impersonating the character for the first time in 1992, Hamill became the voice behind the villain in the groundbreaking Batman: The Animated Series.
Ever since then, Mark Hamill voiced the character in several spinoff series, video games, and films. His exemplary Joker laugh overpowered every adaptation of Joker, to date. However, he wasn’t the only one who brought the faithful adaptation of the comics to mainstream audiences. His fellow collaborator Kevin Conroy was always there to offer his voice for Batman.
The iconic duo were lauded to this day for their iconic and irreplaceable representation of the characters. Fixated with Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy’s voices as Joker and Batman, respectively, fans demanded more of them. However, with Conroy’s unfortunate demise, fans hoped for Hamill to reprise his DC role for the sake of his fans, while there’s still time.
Unfortunately, the Star Wars actor shared disheartening news with his fans, as he confessed his decision to never return as Joker.
Also read: On Popular Demand, Kevin Conroy’s Batman: The Animated Series Returns for Another Epic Run
Mark Hamill Refuses To Reprise His Joker Role
Finding a closure for his character, Mark Hamill revealed his decision during a recent interview, to never reprise his role as Joker. After losing his one constant partner, Kevin Conroy, who sadly passed away in 2022, Hamill decided to put an end to his journey as the iconic DC villain. Unwilling to do a solo return, the actor shared his decision with his fans.
Mark Hamill stated,
“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.’ We were like partners. We were like Laurel and Hardy. Without Kevin there, there doesn’t seem to be a Batman for me.”
The death of his longtime friend and collaborator, Kevin Conroy, hit Hamill tragically and beyond repair. Deeply saddened by his work partner’s death, the actor thus revealed why he doesn’t want to reprise his role as Joker. Claiming how their collaboration as Batman and Joker birthed a dynamic relationship in real life, Mark Hamill admitted missing Conroy.
Considering the genuine friendship between Hamill and Conroy, it is understandable why the former paid a touching tribute by choosing to retire his iconic DC character. Thus, although Hamill remains the best and the most beloved version of Joker, his fans will no longer have more of him.
