With the recent announcement and digital release of Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition, many gamers are expecting NetherRealm Studios’ next game to be the third entry in the fan-favorite Injustice series. Since 2017’s Injustice 2, no new game entry in the Injustice series has been released, with NetherRealm instead focusing on developing Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1. Despite this lack of game entries, DC Comics did expand the Injustice universe through numerous comic series and an animated film. While it’s currently unconfirmed if NetherRealm’s next project is Injustice 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.
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Injustice 3 Shouldn’t Miss the Chance to Feature a Rising Star From the Comics
Whatever Injustice 3’s final roster looks like, it ought to include one key hero recently introduced to the DC Comics pantheon.
The Passing of Batman Actor Kevin Conroy
Sadly, on November 10th, 2022, legendary voice actor Kenvin Conroy passed away at 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 acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series. From here, Conroy would go on to portray Batman in virtually every medium, such as films with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, video games with the Batman: Arkham series, and live action content with The CW’s Batwoman show. Conroy’s final posthumous portrayal of Batman was the animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three, while his final game appearance as Batman was 2024’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
When NetherRealm first began development of Injustice: 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 as Batman in Injustice 1 alongside several fellow 2001 Justice League animated series cohorts, including George Newbern, who portrayed Superman, and Susan Eisenberg, who portrayed Wonder Woman, among others. Most of Injustice 1’s cast, including Conroy, Newbern, and Eisenberg, returned in Injustice 2. These castings helped cement Injustice as 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’s Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe or in 2021’s Injustice animated film.
Potential Replacements and Roles of Injustice 3’s Batman
With Injustice 3 presumably 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 prior Injustice games and other DC Comics work to depict Conroy Batman in Injustice 3, Batman’s role in the story would probably be major, so the developer would likely use another actor instead. Conroy was arguably the most popular voice of Batman, but there are still several other popular Batman voice actors who could take up the mantle of Injustice Batman in Injustice 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’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold and 2019’s Harley Quinn.
Alternatively, NetherRealm could hire legendary video game voice actor Troy Baker to play Batman in Injustice 3. Baker had previously played Sinestro and Dick Grayson Nightwing in Injustice 1, so NetherRealm already has an established relationship with Baker. Further, Baker previously played Batman in the LEGO Batman games and Batman: The Telltale Series, as well as a younger Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins, so he’s already well familiar with the character’s personality and relationships. Otherwise, NetherRealm could hire famed actor Bruce Greenwood to play Injustice 3’s Batman. While Greenwood hasn’t portrayed Batman in many games, he has played him in many popular animated films and shows such as Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, and Young Justice.
Scott Porter Damian Wayne as Batman in Injustice 3
NetherRealm may also go in a completely different direction for the next Injustice game 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 the Injustice Vs. Masters of the Universe comic. Taking place after the bad ending of Injustice 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 the Masters of the Universe is 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 in Injustice 3.
Injustice 2
9/10
- Released
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May 11, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Engine
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unreal engine 3, unreal engine 4