"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy."
-- The Joker, Batman: The Killing Joke
Comic Book Resources has confirmed that Batman: The Animated Series stars Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will reprise their respective roles of Batman and The Joker for the upcoming animated movie adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.
In addition, CBR has revealed that Tara Strong will voice Batgirl/Barbara Gordon and Ray Wise will voice Batgirl's father, Commissioner James Gordon.
"The chance to work once again with Kevin Conroy, my favorite Batman, in what some consider the definitive origin of this iconic villain is a dream come true for me," said Hamill in a statement. "I am beyond thrilled to return as The Joker in The Killing Joke!'"
"I’ve had the great privilege of voicing Batman for more than two decades, and some of my favorite moments in the recording booth have been alongside Mark Hamill," added Conroy. "Mark always enables me to be a better actor. I’m thrilled that we’re both back to bring these characters to life in one of the most heralded Batman/Joker stories of all time."
According to the article, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will host the world premiere of Batman: The Killing Joke this summer at Comic-Con International in San Diego and the film will arrive in stores later this summer.
Created in 1988 by writer Alan Moore and artist Brian Bolland, Batman: The Killing Joke is a one-shot graphic novel that provides an origin for The Joker as a failed stand-up comedian who agrees to aid a gang of criminals and is thwarted by the superhero Batman before being disfigured. In the process, he is driven insane and adopts his supervillain persona. The story is also notable for The Joker shooting and paralyzing Barbara Gordon, which forced her to give up her Batgirl identity and later adopt the new alias Oracle.
Conroy, 60, debuted as Batman/Bruce Wayne in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series, and continued voicing the character with the 1993 animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, The New Batman Adventures, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, The Zeta Project, Justice League, Static Shock, Justice League Unlimited, Justice League: Doom, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the Batman: Strange Days animated short, and several videogames.
Hamill, 64, also debuted as The Joker in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series, and continued voicing the character with the 1993 animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, The New Batman Adventures, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Static Shock, Justice League, the live-action TV series Birds of Prey, and several videogames.
Strong, 43, provided the voice for Batgirl in numerous television series, first on The New Batman Adventures, Gotham Girls, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and Super Best Friends Forever. She's also provided the voice for Harley Quinn on the TV series Arrow, and in videogames such as Injustice: Gods Among Us, the Arkham series and LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
Wise, 68, is best known as Leland Palmer on the ABC series Twin Peaks. He also voiced Perry White in the animated film Superman: Doomsday, and has appeared in the films RoboCop (1987) and Swamp Thing as Dr. Alec Holland. In addition, he recently appeared on the ABC series Agent Carter, along with the TV series Reaper, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Voyager.