Mark Hamill Says Backlash Over Michael Keaton’s Batman Casting Inspired Him to Audition for Joker: ‘There Was a Great Controversy’

While Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix and Jack Nicholson are the faces that pop into ones head when the name Joker is said, no list of the best on-screen Jokers is complete without Mark Hamill. The Star Wars icon voiced the Batman villain on Batman: The Animated Series, which originally aired for 85 episodes on Fox Kids from 1992-1995.Hamill earned acclaim for the voice role, but it would have never happened without Michael Keatons casting as Batman in Tim Burtons 1989 comic book film.

As Hamill recalled during a recent Wired video interview, Keatons casting as Bruce Wayne/Batman earned backlash from comic book fans, considering he was more known as a comedic actor in films such as Mr. Mom and Burtons own Beetlejuice.

I just read for it, Hamill said of the Joker role. I had a confidence that really helped me because there was this big outcry that Michael Keaton was gonna play Batman. Oh, hes Mr. Mom, hes a comedy actor. I mean, they hadnt even seen him [in the role] and they didnt realize how great he would become. But, there was great controversy.

Seeing Keaton overcome backlash to become an iconic Batman gave Hamill the confidence he needed that comic book fans would be willing to accept the Luke Skywalker actor as the Joker.

When I went in [for the Joker role], I thought, You think theyre gonna hire Luke Skywalker to play the Joker? The fans will lose their minds!' Hamill said. I was so sure that I couldnt be cast. I was completely relaxed. A lot of times theres performance anxiety because you want the part, here I knew I couldnt get the part, so, who cares? I drove out of the parking lot thinking, Thats the best Joker theyll ever hear, and its too bad they cant cast me. And as soon as they did cast me, it reversed. I was like, Oh no, I cant do this!'

Hamill said the Joker is one of his favorite characters to play because hes insane, and because hes insane, hes never boring. Its just fun to play a character who creates chaos everywhere he goes.

The Batman fan community often cites Hamills Joker as one of the best. Its a role Hamill has returned to over the years, including in the animated movie Batman: The Killing Joke. Hamill voiced the Joker to Kevin Conroys Batman, and they both reprised their roles in the Batman: Arkham video games. Conroy died last November after a short battle with cancer.

Kevin was perfection, Hamill said in a statement at the time. He was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I loved him like a brother. He truly cared for the people around him his decency shone through everything he did. Every time I saw him or spoke with him, my spirits were elevated.

Watch Hamills new Wired video interview in the post below. Keaton, meanwhile, is reprising the role of Batman in Warner Bros. upcoming The Flash, in theaters June 16.