Alan Tudyk on Playing The Joker Differently Than Mark Hamill in DC's HARLEY QUINN Animated Series
In case you weren’t already aware, Alan Tudyk is providing the voice of The Joker in DC’s upcoming Harley Quinn animated series.
There are have been several voice actors who have voiced the legendary Batman villain over the years, but for most fans, Mark Hamill is the definitive version of the character. He just brought the character to life in a way that no one else has been able to do.
Well, as a fan of Tudyk, I wish him the best as he takes on the role, and I’m excited to see how he makes it is own. The actor is well aware of how fans feel about Hamill’s Joker, and one thing he’s not going to do is try to replicate Hamill’s style.
Tudyk shared a conversation he had with Tony Hale, who also voiced The Joker as well at one point.
"Here's a funny story, Tony Hale plays Psycho, Doctor Psycho. He came in, and I'd said, 'Hi,' and he didn't, I don't know, I'd just finished recording and he was coming in to record and he was talking to the producer saying, 'Oh yeah, the Joker, did y'all get Mark Hamill to do that?' And I said, 'No, they got me. I'm doing the Joker.' Oh, he said, 'Did you get Mark Hamill to do that 'cause if you didn't get him it's going to suck.' 'I'm doing the Joker.' And he said, 'Oh, I'm just saying that because I did the Joker and everybody said, 'You're not Mark Hamill. You suck.''
Tudyk then went on to explain that he purposely didn’t go back and listen to Hamill’s Joker so that he wouldn’t be influenced by it. He also talked about how his Joker will be different than Hamill’s:
"So knowing I can't be Mark Hamill, I haven't listened to Mark Hamill. I have heard him, but I didn't watch it so I couldn't recreate it. He's different in the way that he can cuss. I think that's probably referring to be able to say, 'Ah, fuck off.' Having that in your ability and your Joker is fun. It's a very funny cartoon, animated series, so I think the style of it lends itself to allowing more flexibility. I don't know, man. I don't know. I think I'm doing some of my voice and sometimes I'll hear it, and when I watch the previews of it all, and I just sound like me. I hope it's okay. I'm just hoping, yeah I hope it's okay."
I’m sure that Tudyk is going to be just fine and that fans will be open to how he plays The Joker in the series. I’m personally excited to see what he’s got in store!
The rest of the voice cast of the series includes The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco as Harley, Lake Bell (In a World…, Wet Hot American Summer series, Childrens Hospital), Ron Funches (Powerless), JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Wanda Sykes (Black-ish), Giancarlo Esposito (Bob Roberts, Breaking Bad), Natalie Morales (Bojack Horseman), Jim Rash (Mike Tyson Mysteries), Diedrich Bader (Veep), Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Veep), Chris Meloni (Happy!, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
The first season will consist of 26 half-hour episodes, and this was the previously released synopsis:
The animated series follows Harley as she breaks things off with the Joker and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal "queenpin" of Gotham City. The series is described as an adult animated action-comedy.
Harley Quinn comes from Powerless producers Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey. Do you think Tudyk will deliver a solid Joker performance?
Source: CB