To many, Mark Hamill is the quintessential Joker, with his sinister-yet-hilarious voice work on ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ and several subsequent projects from the 90s-2000s. Hamill’s voice work even tops many iconic live-action performances from the likes of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger in many fans’ esteem. But in 2011, Hamill disappointed his devoted followers when he announced his retirement from the role following his work on the video game ‘Batman: Arkham City’.
Hamill has reprised his role as The Joker a few times, mostly in video games, but insisted that the only way he would provide the voice in another animated film… unless DC/Warner Brothers decided to do an animated film version of ‘The Killing Joke’, the seminal 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland that many consider the ultimate Joker story.
Of course, now they have. Hamill reunited with Batman, Kevin Conroy for the film version which premieres at SDCC next weekend before screening for one night in select theaters on Monday night, July 25. The movie will of course then be released on home video following that.
Will that be the last fans will hear of Hamill’s Joker? Maybe not! (Or then again, maybe.) When asked by one fan if “Was the killing joke the last time you’ll do the Joker??? Please say no” on Twitter Hamill replied “No.”
@HamillHimself Was the killing joke the last time you’ll do the Joker??? Please say no.
— Lakers News Rumors (@LakersSource) July 13, 2016
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 13, 2016
This is far a confirmation. The fan did say “Please say no” to Hamill may have just been responding to that part. I mean, he did say please.
And there’s no further information so even if Hamill DOES return to voice The Joker, it could simply be in another video game project. After all, following ‘The Killing Joke’, where do you go from there?
What projects are worthy of Hamill’s return to the role of The Joker?
‘Batman: The Killing Joke’ will be released on July 23, 2016 via digital Video-on-Demand services, July 26, 2016 via digital HD purchase from retailers, and August 2, 2016 on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Source: Comic Book Movie