Hamish Linklater Finds His Batman Voice Without Mimicking Iconic Kevin Conroy

Key Takeaways:

– Hamish Linklater voices Batman in the new animation series “Batman: Caped Crusader”.
– Tackling the iconic character was a challenge for Linklater, who initially found himself unconsciously imitating Kevin Conroy.
– Despite difficulties, Linklater successfully developed his own Batman and Bruce Wayne voices.
– The first season of “Batman: Caped Crusader” is available now on Prime Video and has been well-received.
– Critics, including Jessica Dwyer, have praised Linklater's performance.

With decades of Batman portrayals, no one can deny the iconic status of Kevin Conroy as the voice of the Dark Knight. Conroy, who unfortunately passed away, dedicated thirty years to bringing Batman to life across various media platforms — from TV to cinema, even to video games. Imagine the daunting task actor Hamish Linklater faced when stepping into those formidable bat shoes for the new animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader”.

The Conroy Influence on a New Batman Voice

In a recent interview with GamesRader+, Linklater opened up about his daunting task. He confessed an initial, involuntary attempt to replicate Conroy's voice during his early attempts at finding his Batman character. A massive fan of Batman: The Animated Series and Conroy himself, Linklater confessed that he was unknowingly chasing the lauded actor's voice.

Linklater stated, “I was sitting in my car with my phone and I beat it to death, I kept going back and listening to it as I wanted to hear and find that voice to find Batman.” However, he soon noted that his quest was leading him down the path of imitation, a route he knew he had to avoid.

Developing a Unique Batman and Bruce Wayne Voice

After much experimentation, Linklater finally found his unique rendition of Batman. Oddly enough, creating a unique voice for Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego, presented an even greater challenge. However, Linklater pointed out the silver lining in the task, stating, “It's certainly taken longer to feel comfortable with Bruce than Batman – there's a lot more Batman than Bruce in the first season, but that's what is also helpful about it being week two of Batman; it's also Hamish's Batman week two. I haven't been on the job very long so I'm finding it as I go along.”

“Batman: Caped Crusader” Scores Critical Praise

The labor of Linklater's efforts is available for viewership as the first season of “Batman: Caped Crusader” is now streaming on Prime Video, where it has garnered positive reviews. Despite initial skepticism, respected critic Jessica Dwyer gave a favorable review. Dwyer initially admitted to a lack of overwhelming enthusiasm, stating, “As I said, there's something really special about the original series that would be hard to recapture.”

However, particular appreciation was given to Linklater's vocals, with Dwyer gushing, “I can't say enough how much I love Hamish Linklater's voice here. I'm not ashamed to say I teared up a little bit. I hope he knows how much that means to fans of the OG.” Despite her reservations, Dwyer remains hopeful that “Batman: Caped Crusader” will eventually recapture the magic of the original series.

In conclusion, stepping into the shoes of an icon like Kevin Conroy was never going to be an easy task. Yet, Hamish Linklater has proven that it's possible to create a unique interpretation that resonates well with fans and critics alike. It goes to show that, while some voices may be irreplaceable, new voices can still add to the rich legacy of our beloved Dark Knight.