Jack DeSena, Avatar: The Last Airbender's original Sokka actor, says that he’s always wanted to play Batman, and that he’d still love to if given the chance. DeSena currently stars as lead character Callum in Netflix’s animated fantasy series The Dragon Prince. Beyond that, the actor has worked extensively in the voiceover field in the years since Avatar ended.
Both behind the mic and on screen, DeSena is first and foremost a comedian who got his big break on the classic Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All That. He later gained major fame and acclaim as the voice of Sokka, going on to have a successful and prolific career as an actor. DeSena has starred in projects like Dorm Life, 100 Things To Do Before High School, and Lego Monkie Kid. According to DeSena, that’s kept him from playing his dream character – Batman himself.
During a recent appearance on the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast, cohosted by Prince Zuko voice actor Dante Basco and Avatar Korra voice actor Janet Varney, DeSena was asked what animated role he’d like to play above all others if given the choice. His answer was quick and simple – Batman – but DeSena quickly acknowledged that, due to his vocal typing, he’ll likely never have a chance to play the role. “The true, not at all in my vocal wheelhouse, is Batman,” DeSena said. “I would have loved to have been able to be Batman.” He acknowledged at Basco’s prompting that it’s not too late, but also said that, in all likelihood, he’ll never be quite right for the part.
Though the Caped Crusader might be just outside DeSena’s vocal abilities, he has played Robin before in the 2014 DC animated film JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time – a role that Basco also apparently auditioned for. The two ended up costarring in the film, with Basco voicing the lesser-known DC hero Karate Kid. After so many years since the end of Avatar: The Last Airbender, it’s fun to know that the two stars have remained friends and continued to work together on different projects.
As for the Batman role, different stars continue to take swings at the animated Dark Knight. Most recently, Supernatural star Jensen Ackles played Batman in Batman: The Long Halloween, a two-part animated feature from DC adapting the acclaimed comic of the same name. For many fans, Kevin Conroy remains the ultimate voice of Bruce Wayne, having starred in stories like Batman: The Animated Series and the Batman: Arkham video game series. Maybe one day DeSena will have his shot at the caped crusader, but even if not, he’ll still be remembered for his role in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Source: Avatar: Braving the Elements