When Gotham City's slums have been transformed into a secluded super-prison, it's up to Batman to uncover its conspiracy in the sequel to 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum.
In an interview with IGN, Mark Hamill revealed that he had to be coaxed into playing the role of The Joker in the first Arkham Asylum game, and he is now stating that Arkham Asylum 2 will be the last time he provides the voice of the character.
Let's face it: between Mark Hamill and Heath Ledger, The Joker has now been played to the perfect iconic levels that the character deserves. It's time that Hamill starts focusing on the 7 million OTHER voice acting jobs that he's got, right?
Nonetheless, we can all rest assured that he will go down in history for TWO incredibly iconic characters: Luke and The Joker.
What do you think, folks? Personally, I'm sad to hear this news, but I understand what he means.
I completely agree with you. It really shows when someone loves the source material. I'll miss him but it will be exciting to see what new stuff he does.
im disapointed much like i was disapointed to learn him and Kevin Conroy wont be providing the voices for the uping batman: under the red hood animated movie (but John DiMaggio, Jensen Ackles and Neil Patrick Harris being involved makes me happy) all good things must come to an end, to me Mark Hamill will always be the best joker his laugh is just sick
" I think you're forgetting Jack Nicholson. Now THAT'S a guy who can play The Joker. "
Heath Ledger's Joker makes Jack's look like a kindergarten teacher. "
Yeah, but I don't watch The Joker expecting serious, gritty acting and a nuanced backstory, I expect a bright purple suit, a five-foot long revolver and outrageous over-acting.
@Ryax said:
" @Elazul said:
" @Ryax said:
" @Elazul said:
" I think you're forgetting Jack Nicholson. Now THAT'S a guy who can play The Joker. "
Aww sadface. Mark Hamill as the Joker is one of my all time favorite characters. Im really glad its him as the joker in the Arkham Asylum games though, would have been a different experience without him.
I just wonder how many times they can use him. I see him as the perfect joker. Better than Heath Ledger because from Mark Hammill you get that feeling of psycho killer and guy that is funny. Heath Ledger was great but I felt like he was missing the jokes, the funnyman stuff. But really, he should move on and so should the rest of us. He did his part and you just cant keep using him while everything else changes. Him and Kevin Conroy together is freaking great, but while every other super hero changes voices and actors and voice actors, batman and the joker dont? Sometimes you just need new takes on the character even though they might not be as good.
Didin't he says this same thing when the cartoon ended? Then when they offered him the spot for AA he took it. I'm guessing it will mainly depend on what he's currently working on if he's approached for the joker part again.
I do enjoy him as a voice actor so I'm interested to see what else he's got going on.
He's been the Joker for 18 years. He has had one Hell of a run, and while I am saddened by this information, he can safely hang up his hand buzzer if the game is good knowing that he is and was the best Joker of all time.
Nonetheless, we can all rest assured that he will go down in history for TWO incredibly iconic characters: Luke and The Joker.
How could you forget Cocknocker?
Possibly the greatest super villain ever! "
Yes. What a great cameo! I also loved his parts in Mad-TV and thought he was a great villain in Soldier of Fortune 2. The guy apparently also has a lot of "indie-cred"- whatever that means.
I think it's more tragic that since Return of the Jedi, he's only made a name for himself as a voice actor. Going from Star Wars to being a VA for cartoons has to be demoralising.
" Didin't he says this same thing when the cartoon ended? Then when they offered him the spot for AA he took it. I'm guessing it will mainly depend on what he's currently working on if he's approached for the joker part again. I do enjoy him as a voice actor so I'm interested to see what else he's got going on. "
Yeah. I don't think he wants to be the Joker at the expense of everything else. If the timing was right and and money was appealing enough I am sure he would come back for a third Arkham Asylum if it were made.
@White_Silhouette: Actually, he didn't want to do the first Arkham Asylum either. They ended up convincing him. I'm sure money was a good motivator on that, but at the same time, they also had a great story for that game...so I'm sure that helped.
@HandsomeDead said:
" I think it's more tragic that since Return of the Jedi, he's only made a name for himself as a voice actor. Going from Star Wars to being a VA for cartoons has to be demoralising. "
He chose to become a voice actor because he knew that people would just see him as "Luke Skywalker in this role". He made the SMART move, and because of it, he's had an incredibly successful career. Not everyone is Harrison Ford, ya know.
@Abyssfull said:
" @GetEveryone said:
" Jack Nicholson played the Joker like Jack Nicholson. "
It's why he suited the role so well. "
No. Just...just no. Nicholson was terrible as The Joker when the movie came out, and nothing has changed since then. Then again, Jack Nicholson is a terrible actor. He simply plays Jack Nicholson in every role. He's like Denzel Washington.
His words may be slightly empty considering he's said it before, though I do think it would be pretty great to have a dramatic death to send off his character. Its not like Batman lacks for good villainy. Fact is, this is the only other thing he's known for and I think he would much rather be known for this than some movie franchise he did 30 years ago.
" Jack Nicholson played the Joker like Jack Nicholson. "
It's why he suited the role so well. "
No. Just...just no. Nicholson was terrible as The Joker when the movie came out, and nothing has changed since then. Then again, Jack Nicholson is a terrible actor. He simply plays Jack Nicholson in every role. He's like Denzel Washington. "
Have you seen One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest? That is in no way standard Nicholson acting. That was a piece of brilliance.
I'm not even sure why you are comparing Hamill's and Ledger's Jokers. They're taken from different source material so there is a reason why Ledger didn't portray Joker as a clown. He was portraying the Joker in the comics that was just a psychopathic killer with a disturbed grip on reality and a even more sadistic sense of humor.
Hamill was great, It would be great if he would do the Joker again. But I'd wait to see what happens in Arkham City before we start praying for him to do a third, may not need a third.
Loved him in Batman: The Animated Series. Him and Heath Ledger really brought out the dark, psychotic side of Jokers character. I'm bummed out a bit but, I'm sure it's time to move on.
I don't think anyone will ever replace Mark Hamill as my favorite characterization of the Joker, but I wouldn't mind if John DiMaggio took up the mantle. (Wore the face paint? Put on the lipstick? Choose your preferred phrase). He was really good in "Batman: Under the Red Hood," giving the character a different kind of dark edge. But just to show how great Hamill truly is, I don't think the Joker will ever be more dangerous, sadistic, or mad than in his performance in "Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker."
I don't get it. Does Mark Hammill have so many other jobs lined up he just doesn't have the time? It's like when Rick Moranis didn't want to do a voice in the Ghostbusters game, even tho EVERYBODY else, even Walter Peck, was on board.
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