With the recent announcement and digital release ofMortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition, many gamers are expecting NetherRealm Studios’ next game to be the third entry in the fan-favoriteInjusticeseries. Since 2017’sInjustice 2, no new game entry in theInjusticeseries has been released, with NetherRealm instead focusing on developingMortal Kombat 11andMortal Kombat 1. Despite this lack of game entries, DC Comics did expand theInjusticeuniverse through numerous comic series and an animated film. While it’s currently unconfirmed if NetherRealm’s next project isInjustice 3, the developer may face a difficult decision regarding one important character if the threequel is being worked on, that being the choice of whom to cast as Batman.
The Passing of Batman Actor Kevin Conroy
Sadly, on November 10th, 2022,legendary voice actor Kenvin Conroy passed awayat the age of 66 after battling intestinal cancer. While Conroy had a vast film and television acting career, he was arguably best known for his multiple award-winning portrayals of Batman, starting with the critically acclaimedBatman: The Animated Series. From here, Conroy would go on to portray Batman in virtually every medium, such as films withBatman: Mask of the Phantasm, video games with theBatman: Arkhamseries, and live action content with The CW’sBatwomanshow. Conroy’s final posthumous portrayal of Batman was the animated filmJustice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three, while his final game appearance as Batman was 2024’sSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
When NetherRealm first began development ofInjustice: Gods Among Us, they sought to use some of DC’s most iconic actors to portray their alternate universe characters. This ultimately resulted in Conroy being cast asBatman inInjustice 1alongside several fellow 2001Justice Leagueanimated series cohorts, including George Newbern, who portrayed Superman, and Susan Eisenberg, who portrayed Wonder Woman, among others. Most ofInjustice 1’s cast, including Conroy, Newbern, and Eisenberg, returned inInjustice 2. These castings helped cementInjusticeas a popular and intriguing series, with many players praising Conroy’s performance as a freedom fighting Batman against a dictatorial Newbern Superman.
Kevin Conroy did not portray Batman in 2008’sMortal Kombat vs. DC Universeor in 2021’sInjusticeanimated film.
Potential Replacements and Roles of Injustice 3’s Batman
WithInjustice 3presumably just entering the pre-development stages or not having begun development at all, it’s unlikely NetherRealm had Conroy record any lines as Batman before his passing. While NetherRealm could hypothetically use cut lines or leftover work from priorInjusticegames and other DC Comics work to depict Conroy Batman inInjustice 3, Batman’s role in the story would probably be major, so the developer would likely use another actor instead. Conroy was arguablythe most popular voice of Batman,but there are still several other popular Batman voice actors who could take up the mantle ofInjusticeBatman inInjustice 3. For example, NetherRealm could hire Karl Diedrich Bader to play Batman, as he’s previously portrayed the Dark Knight in several popular animated series, such as 2008’sBatman: The Brave and the Boldand 2019’sHarley Quinn.
Alternatively, NetherRealm could hire legendary video game voice actor Troy Baker to play Batman inInjustice 3. Baker had previously played Sinestro and Dick Grayson Nightwing inInjustice 1, so NetherRealm already has an established relationship with Baker. Further, Baker previously played Batman in theLEGO Batmangames andBatman: The Telltale Series, as well as a younger Joker inBatman: Arkham Origins,so he’s already well familiar with the character’s personality and relationships. Otherwise, NetherRealm could hire famed actorBruce Greenwood to playInjustice 3’s Batman. While Greenwood hasn’t portrayed Batman in many games, he has played him in many popular animated films and shows such asBatman: Under the Red Hood,Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, andYoung Justice.
Scott Porter Damian Wayne as Batman in Injustice 3
NetherRealm may also go in a completely different direction for the nextInjusticegame when it comes to Batman by casting Scott Porter’s Damian Wayne as the Dark Knight. This could be based on how Batman and Damian Wayne are portrayed in theInjustice Vs. Masters of the Universecomic. Taking place after the bad ending ofInjustice 2, the comic follows Damian Wayne donning the cowl of Batman after he becomes disenfranchised with Superman utilizing Brainiac’s technology to dominate the world. Bruce Wayne, meanwhile, had his self-autonomy stripped away by Superman using Brainiac technology to control Wayne’s mind for his own purposes. While theMasters of the Universeis likely not canon in NetherRealm’s eyes, having Damian take up Batman’s cowl could be a dramatic story plot and an interesting way to handle Conroy’s passing inInjustice 3.
