Mark Hamill may play Joker in Batman sequel
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom
It's no shock that Mark Hamill's name has been bandied about as a candidate for the role of The Joker in the inevitable sequel to Batman Begins. After all, even *I* know that he voiced the role on Batman: The Animated Series (although I guess I only know that because I got dragged to ComicCon a few years ago, and he was there, and a lot of hysteria ensued. Anyway.) There are two other two guys on the geek preference list: Crispin Glover (who is always on the Karina preference list), and Lachy Hulme, an Austrailian actor who was in one of the Matrix sequels.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-15-2005 @ 2:21PM
mick du russel said...
When I think of the joker, I immediately remember the great actor and impressionist Frank Gorshin. Those are some pretty hefty shoes to fill. The ideal candidate for that part could be one of these two people: Jim Carrey and Robin Williams. Their quick wit and ability to change characters at the drop of a hat confirm my suggestion. Maybe Mark Hamill, although a fine actor in his own right, is an inexpensive alternative to thses blockbuster actors.
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6-15-2005 @ 2:36PM
JMAN said...
Frank Gorshin played the Riddler not the Joker. Cesar Romero played the Joker. I think Mark Hamill would be an interesting choice - but can he pull it off? I'm only familiar with his STAR WARS acting and that was years ago.
Personally, I would love to see Paul Giamatti as the Joker. He has that ghoulish grin that would be ideal.
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6-15-2005 @ 2:44PM
mick du russel said...
OOps my mistake. There were so many great actors and actresses on the original Batman. I was temporarily confused. I still feel my two choices would be great ones.
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6-15-2005 @ 6:25PM
Belgand said...
As much as I love Crispin Glover I really just don't see him as the Joker. He's just a bit too cold most of the time to pull of the truely psychotic Joker. I have to admit that before his outstanding work on the animated series I probably wouldn't have seen Mark Hamill in the role either, but he's pretty solidly convinced me that he can handle the vocal end of it and I'm willing to believe that he would also be up to the physical end. I know deep in my heart that there's a proper Batman villian role for Glover, but I'm at my wit's end trying to think of it.
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6-15-2005 @ 3:18PM
Ed said...
That'd be great. He already got some practice for the role by playing Cock Knocker (sp?) in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
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6-15-2005 @ 3:32PM
The Jeremy said...
Crispin Glover? Puuuuullllease. Just because the guy has the reputation as being odd in real life does not give him the credentials to play The Joker on the big screen. I like Mark Hamill a lot, but if they cast him, then the films run into the issue of The Joker being much more older than Batman just like with the original Burton film. A true fanboy wish would be to have Christopher Eccleston to portray The Joker. While relatively unknown here in America, the guy is a heavy in the UK. Look at the guy. He's got that Roman-esque nose. Distinctive ears. Very thin. Put make-up on him and he looks the part. Plus, he has the gravitas to carry the character. If you check him out from this season of *Doctor Who,* you can see he can go from joking to dead series at the drop of a dime. Plus, he also has the smile. Now if his accent is a problem, then I would suggest doing the unthinkable...dubbing his vocal track with Mark Hamill's. But with or without Hamill's vocals, Eccleston is the best choice for the role. You heard it here second to only on AICN.
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6-15-2005 @ 4:45PM
Joshua said...
since you said Paul Giamatti it makes me think of his costar in sideways Thomas Hayden Church. I believe he would make a great joker. but i believe he is going to be playing the villian in the new spiderman and 2 villians in two superhero movies in a row might be a bit much.
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6-15-2005 @ 5:59PM
Phil said...
I can't read a Batman comic without hearing Mark Hamill as the Joker's voice in my head. That is just what the Joker sounds like. I think with makeup and clever camera angles (he's not quite tall enough) they could totally pull it off. Mark IS the Joker. Anyone who has ever seen Batman: TAS will agree.
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6-15-2005 @ 6:56PM
Ash said...
Mark Hamill has it on the voice. However, Crispin Glover fits the "darker" concept that they want. He is a very good actor as seen in Willard, though not a super film really. Mark Hamill would still be great, but the over acting only works in the cartoon. Hamill doing that in live action may not be so pretty, plus, the studio will want someone a bit more, well, young and attractive. None of this really matters though, because, when it comes to Batman on film, The Joker has been done (literally to death). Jack Nicholson sets the bar too high for any of the above actors.
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6-16-2005 @ 1:41AM
Sean McCarthy said...
What is with the word "darker" this year?
Sith was advertised as being, perhaps, "too dark for kids". Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises a "far darker take" on the old familiar story. Mr. & Mrs. Smith offers an "occasionaly dark look" at married life. Batman Begins will be the "darkest entry in the series thus far".
And, of course, Mark Hamill is clearly "not dark enough" to play The Joker.
Forget about casting the villains...if this keeps up, next summer they'll need Willem Defoe to play Batman.
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6-19-2005 @ 6:38PM
il duce said...
i think willem could be a good joker, altho his being in spiderman would probly keep him from playing the joker
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6-19-2005 @ 9:11PM
Sean McCarthy said...
For the "darkest" ever installment of the Dark Knight series, how about:
Batman - Steve Buscemi
Robin - Max Perlich
The Joker - Eric Roberts
The Penguin - Clint Howard
The Riddler - James Remar
Catwoman - Fairuza Balk
And...Bruce Dern, as a boozy, 'Nam-crazed Comissioner Gordon.
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6-22-2005 @ 2:54PM
Jim said...
Christopher Eccleston would make a gret Joker. With the right make-up he could look exceptionally freaky. He is a very diverse actor and I think his Joker would be a much darker version of TAS version. He could really make the role his own and give us a much scarier version than nicholson did and also a funnier one. His commical timing is spot on and he could give the character some really funny, as well as disturbing, blackly comic moments. CHRIS ECCLESTON FOR THE JOKER!
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6-28-2005 @ 12:47AM
cat said...
Mark Hamill for The Joker all the way.
His Joker is THE Joker in my opinion. Fantastic voice work, which I believe he would be able to easily translate onscreen.
He's a great actor who really knows the character, being a fan and having played the Joker for about a decade now. I'd love to see him as the Joker.
Not to mention he's a big name and if WB plays their cards right they can really build up the people about this movie.
As for Crispin Glover, he really doesn't say Joker to me. The creepy factor he has is the slimy, henchmen kind of creepy, Mark can bring the charismatic, charming creepy of the Joker to the screen. Plus, admit it you'd love to hear The Laugh onscreen.
As for age, they are gonna have to paint his skin anyway, that's gonna knock off a lot of years. Besides, I'd rather have a Joker that embodies the character correctly than just some guy who looks like him.
Hamill should absolutely get the part, I mean look how much buzz he's creating for the movie by just being mentioned on the shorlist.
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9-23-2005 @ 12:08PM
Hope said...
I`d vote for Mark Hamill too. I`d LOVE to see him playing the part, not only hear him do it.
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6-30-2005 @ 1:29PM
TytianaCS said...
Mark Hamill for the Joker all the way!!!!! I can not see anyone else taking his place or even trying to 'duplicate' his past performances as the Joker.
Glover is a good actor but when you think about it, could he truly live up to the 'challenge' of the role? It takes a bit more than being dark and creepy to play a character like the Joker. There's a madness to him!! Jack Nicholson was an excellent Joker and basically paved the way for how the Joker was to 'behave' in "Batman: The Animated Series". But Hamill took it and made it his own!!
Regardless of who they do finally pick, I truly wish the actor the best of luck because there are going to be so many expectations from his performance alone!!
But personally, Mark Hamill is THE JOKER!
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