DC Comics is a force of nature in entertainment and this has been the case for decades now. DC and Marvel have had a healthy competition in the pages and on screen, and for comic books fans, this has meant a whole lot of great stories to enjoy throughout the years. Thankfully, this rivalry isn't going anywhere.
Landing a role as an iconic DC character could change the game for anyone, and Tim Curry made it a mission to land the role of the Joker in the past. Unfortunately, Curry was never able to seal the deal, despite getting close multiple times.
Let's take a look at how close Tim Curry came to playing the Joker.
Tim Curry Is A Legend
Having been acting since the 1960s, Tim Curry is a performer that virtually everyone is familiar with. While he may not be a prominent face in entertainment anymore, there is a good chance that most people have seen or heard Curry in a number of amazing projects through the years.
On the big screen, some of Curry's biggest projects include Rocky Horror Picture Show, Annie, Legend, Clue, IT, Home Alone 2, The Three Musketeers, Muppet Treasure Island, Charlie's Angels, and Scary Movie 2. Curry has done some great work on the small screen, too. He has appeared on shows like Roseanne, Tales from the Crypt, Monk, Will & Grace, Psych, and The Wild Thornberrys.
As great as he is acting in front of the camera or on stage, Curry has also done some incredible work as a voice actor, having put together an extensive list of credits. It's truly amazing to look at all of the work that he has put in through the years, and it is easy to see why people have so much respect for him.
Even though Curry has done a little bit of everything in entertainment, there have been some roles that have eluded him. In fact, landing the role of the Clown Prince of Crime proved to be a tall order for the actor.
He Nearly Played The Joker In Tim Burton's 'Batman'
Back in the 80s, Tim Burton was brewing up his version of Batman for the big screen, and movie fans had no idea what he was about to unleash. Instead of a bright spectacle, Burton took fans into the dark depths of Gotham and gave the world a superhero movie that truly changed the game.
Jack Nicholson was the man that landed the role of the Joker, and he gave an iconic performance that set a high bar for all actors who have followed. Prior to Nicholson sealing the deal for the role, Tim Curry was in heavy contention to play the iconic villain.
Curry had been flashing his talent for years, including a villainous turn in Legend, and clearly, Burton thought that he could have added a genuine darkness to the Joker in Batman. Curry was facing stuff competition, however, as names like Jack Nicholson, Robin Williams, and even John Lithgow were in contention for the role.
Even though Curry was unable to land the role of the Joker in Batman, he would find himself up to play the villain once again, only this time, it was going to be on an animated series.
He Nearly Voiced The Joker In 'Batman: The Animated Series'
It is almost impossible to imagine what the Joker would sound like on Batman: The Animted Series without Mark Hamill providing his voice, but before Hamill got the gig, Tim Curry had it locked down. Unfortunately, Curry would not keep the role of the Joker on Batman: The Animated Series either.
According to ScreenRant, "From the outside, Curry felt like perfect casting, especially coming off the back of his acclaimed turn as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 IT miniseries. The actor reportedly recorded four episodes before being replaced. There are conflicting reports over why Curry exited, with the actor stating he had bronchitis at the time and the part was too much of a strain on his voice, while the showrunners apparently didn't think his take was working."
There is a video of what's Curry's Joker laugh sounded like, and it is quite different from the one that Mark Hamill gave fans. It just goes to show that one change in casting can drastically alter the outcome of a project.
Despite being up for the Joker several times, Tim Curry was never able to land the role and make it his own. Nevertheless, Curry is still an icon of entertainment who had plenty of other memorable roles.