One of the elements that made the Batman: Arkham series stand above other Batman video games was developer Rocksteady's decision to bring back some key voice actors from Batman: The Animated series. The Batman: Arkham games' portrayal of the Dark Knight has proven incredibly popular, with its portrayal of Batman and his rogues gallery of villains standing head and shoulders above those of many other video games and even films. While the games do present their own takes on Batman's classic characters, many of them have been influenced considerably by Batman: The Animated Series, which is why it was the perfect choice for Rocksteady to bring back some familiar voices from the show.
Part of the reason the Batman: Arkham series remains so beloved is the excellent writing, characters, and story that help to frame Gotham City and its inhabitants in deep and interesting ways. Since the story is a big draw for the games, using veteran voice actors that fans are used to hearing helps to make the characters come alive and resonate with fans that used to watch Batman: The Animated Series. One of BTAS' key writers, Paul Dini, even wrote the stories for Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City.
The three games in the mainline Batman: Arkham trilogy (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, Arkham Knight) all utilized actors from Batman: The Animated Series, including Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker. Only the prequel spinoff, Batman: Arkham Origins, which was developed by WB Games Montréal rather than Rocksteady, recast the voice of Batman, though the studio still used some Batman: The Animated Series veterans in supporting roles. While only a few key voice actors reprised their roles in the games, it still helped to sell fans on the new iterations of the characters.
Kevin Conroy Voiced Bruce Wayne In The Batman: Arkham Trilogy
Arguably the most important actor to reprise their role is Kevin Conroy. Conroy, who wants to make another Batman: Arkham game, reprised his role as Batman from Batman: The Animated Series. Kevin Conroy is the most iconic voice actor to play Batman, having voiced the character in Batman: The Animated Series, the Justice League animated series, and several video games including NetherRealm's Injustice games. Conroy's voice is so iconic as the character, that many fans consider him their favorite Batman actor, even above any live-action Batman actor. His voice helped to anchor the series in the three mainline Batman: Arkham games. He did not voice Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins, however, with the role instead going to Roger Craig Smith, who is also famous for being the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sadly, Conroy has indicated that there are no plans for a new Batman: Arkham game that he is aware of, and it seems unlikely that Rocksteady would develop another entry in the series without him. However, fans of the actor can look forward to the upcoming Warner Bros fighting game, MultiVersus, where he will once again voice the Dark Knight, marking his first appearance as Bruce Wayne since his live-action appearance as the billionaire hero in the Batwoman show. It is unclear yet whether he will make a surprise appearance as Batman in the upcoming game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, though as of yet, no plans to include the character have been announced.
The Joker Is Voiced By Mark Hamill In The Batman: Arkham Games
While Joker may not be Batman: Arkham's best villain, he is likely its most iconic. This is due, in part, to the excellent portrayal of the character by veteran Batman: The Animated Series actor, Mark Hamill. Hamill, who is best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, has portrayed Batman's archnemeses since the debut season of Batman: The Animated Series. The actor has continued to portray the character in several high profile vocal appearances, including Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Batman: The Killing Joke, and much, much more. Much like Kevin Conroy's Batman, many Joker fans consider Hamill's portrayal to be the most iconic version of the character.
Also like Conroy, Hamill did not reprise his role as Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins, instead being replaced by Troy Baker, who has voiced other characters in the Batman: Arkham series including Two-Face and Jason Todd. Mark Hamill played a large role in the first two games in the series, up until the Joker's shocking death at the end of Batman: Arkham City. While his death meant that the Joker wasn't around for the events of Batman: Arkham Knight, Hamill still reprised the role in a smaller capacity. His powerful performance, coupled with the series' impressive writing, helped to humanize Batman's archnemesis, and the character's death became an iconic and surprisingly impactful moment in gaming history.
Arleen Sorkin Briefly Reprised Her Role As Harley Quinn Before Being Replaced By Tara Strong
Arleen Sorkin, the original voice actor for Harley Quinn, also briefly reprised her role in Batman: Arkham Asylum before being replaced by Tara Strong as Harley in future Batman: Arkham games. Sorkin not only was a veteran voice actor from Batman: The Animated Series, but was also the first actor to portray Harley Quinn in any way. In fact, the character of Harley Quinn was apparently inspired by a scene in the soap opera Days of Our Lives where Sorkin appeared as a clown on roller skates. Her return as the character was an important one, as she was not only the originator of the role, but also its inspiration.
Much in the same way that Arleen Sorkin's portrayal of the character in Batman: The Animated Series created and defined the character, her portrayal of the anti-hero in Batman: Arkham redefined Harley Quinn going forward (even inspiring her live-action adaptation in the DCEU), making Arleen Sorkin the actor to portray the character's two most defining appearances. After Sorkin retired from the role following her appearance in Batman: Arkham Asylum, it was taken on by Tara Strong. Strong was also an animated alumnus from The New Batman Adventures, having voiced Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in the show. While she switched roles in the Batman: Arkham games to be Joker's right hand partner, she proved an excellent choice for the character, and has voiced Harley Quinn in most of her major appearances since.
BTAS' Harvey Bullock & Robin Actors Were Also In Batman: Arkham
From its story to its visual presentation, Batman: Arkham was heavily BTAS-inspired. Along with Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin, the games also had Robert Costanzo reprise his role as Gotham PD Officer Harvey Bullock. Additionally, Batman: Arkham Knight brought back Loren Lester, who voiced Dick Grayson/Robin in Batman: The Animated Series back in a new role. He portrayed Kirk Langstrom, also known as Man-Bat. The addition of these actors appearing in supporting roles, side-by-side with the returning leads, helped the Batman: Arkham games really succeed in nailing the feel and tone of Batman: The Animated Series in the game, before evolving it into a much darker depiction.