Will Friedle, the acclaimed voice actor behind Terry McGinnis in the animated series "Batman Beyond," recently confirmed to fans at the Animate! Columbus 2025 convention that he will not be returning to the iconic role. Friedle revealed that the pivotal factor in his decision was the passing of his dear friend and co-star, Kevin Conroy, in 2022.
"If you had asked me three years ago, I would have said, 'Absolutely, give me the microphone right now!'" Friedle explained. "But now that Kevin is gone... I'm really not sure if I can continue." He added, "If there's a reboot, I think both roles would need to be recast. I can't imagine Terry continuing without Kevin's voice as Bruce."
Conroy was a legendary figure in Batman animation history. His voice became synonymous with the Dark Knight, beginning with "Batman: The Animated Series" and extending to "Justice League Unlimited," "Static Shock," and the "Batman: Arkham" video game series, among numerous other DC animated films and games. He passed away in New York City on November 10, 2022, at the age of 66, due to complications from intestinal cancer.
Friedle's sentiment is echoed by Mark Hamill, the voice of the iconic Joker, who in 2023 also stated he would no longer participate in any DC animated voice work following Conroy's death.
Hamill explained that whenever he was asked to voice the Joker, his only question was, "Is Kevin playing Batman?" He would accept the role only if Conroy was involved, emphasizing their partnership and stating that without Conroy, there was no Batman for him.
"Batman Beyond" originally premiered in 1999, set in a future where a retired Bruce Wayne passes the Batman mantle to young Terry McGinnis. Although not directly adapted from existing comics, the series garnered critical acclaim for its profound storytelling and distinctive art style, eventually being officially incorporated into DC Comics canon.
via： Comicbook.com