WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, available on digital HD now.
Jason O'Mara has voiced Batman for the DC Animated Movie Universe more than 10 films, beginning with 2014's Justice League: War. With the DCAMU coming to an end with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, O'Mara's run as the Dark Knight reaches its climax. The Caped Crusader takes on a very different role, as a subjugated servant of Darkseid, after the villain conquers Earth.
In an interview with CBR, O'Mara reflected on his tenure portraying Batman, the character's shocking role reversal for Apokolips War, and what he is most proud to add to the enduring legacy of the iconic DC superhero.
CBR: This is maybe the darkest adventure you've had voicing the Caped Crusader, and you certainly have an interesting role to play. How was it to close out the run that started with Justice League: War?
Jason O'Mara: I think this is probably one of the most exciting and epic movies we've made yet -- and there's been a lot of exciting, epic movies! Sixteen movies in this series, and I've played Batman 11 times, been doing it for seven years now. We had a lot to live up to and a lot of stories to tie up and I feel like we've done that in a satisfactory way. But, like you say, it is super-dark. Darkseid has never been more powerful, and it's going to take the combined efforts of the Justice League, Justice League Dark, Teen Titans, Suicide Squad, everybody to try to defeat this enemy. And Darkseid has a few tricks up his sleeve and infiltrates the group, turning heroes against each other; it gets pretty dark.
Batman becomes a servant of Darkseid and he preys on his greatest weakness, which is the love he has for his son. That really is the emotional climax of this and, what happens after that when Bruce has Damian in his arms, that's probably the most emotional you'll ever see Bruce Wayne and the emotional climax of the whole series, certainly as Batman is concerned.
What has surprised you the most about doing the role for over 10 films now?
I didn't realize we'd get the chance to develop the character this much. I think I'm second only to Kevin Conroy in the amount of times I've gotten to voice Batman in features. Even the live-action haven't spent this much ... I'm wary about saying "time" because, obviously, live-action is a completely different approach to him. We don't have to go to wardrobe, we don't have to wear capes and cowls, we don't have to go to make-up [laughs]. But, having said that, I've had the chance to develop the character with writers, directors and producers over the course of this very long story arc, which has really been a tremendous opportunity; just an honor and a privilege which I'm a grateful for. So I think the surprising thing is how deep we went with the character development.
Batman just isn't this Dark Knight seeking vengeance, everybody knows his backstory. This backstory is actually quite unique to the New 52 and this particular universe and continuity of films in regards to his relationships with Talia, Ra's al Ghul and, of course, with Damian. So that fact that we went so far with the family themes that are pertinent to this version really surprised me and I feel like I got the chance to develop every possible aspect of this Batman throughout the eleven movies that he appeared in.
To have the opportunity to do a standalone trilogy about his relationship with his son and other characters, as well as a bunch of Justice League, Justice League Dark and the Teen Titans movie in there, the pair of Superman movies, as well as the standalone Batman: Hush, I really feel like I had the chance to develop the character deeply and fully. And here, there's a definite turn for the character: He goes from this emotionless, almost robotic being to the most emotional Bruce Wayne has been in any of these movies. And I feel like we really earned that. Yeah, think that's what's most surprising for me and also what I'm most proud of.
Having said all that, is there a team-up, a moment or a comic book story you would've loved to adapt or explore, just spend a little more time in, yourself?
Not particularly but I am a fan of the original rogues gallery. Even though, in Batman: Hush, we got to see a lot of those guys, I've never done a story with the Penguin, for example, and we only had one relatively short scene with the Joker in Hush. I would've loved to have done more with the original villains in whatever storyline that would entail.
But, having said that, I feel like I got to work with many villains over the course of the films, I'm certainly not complaining. Also, I do feel like my cup runneth over because, while this was supposed be the New 52 storyline, we got to take one of the most beloved and classic titles of all in Batman: Hush and adapt it to this storyline. That was unprecedented, unexpected, and so I feel like I got to do everything I wanted and more.
Looking back, what are you the most happy about in leaving your own personal stamp on such an iconic character?
Oh, by far, the element that he's a father. When we first met Damian in Son of Batman, he appeared to be about ten years old -- he's a bit older -- but that's about how old my son was when we recorded that. And as my relationship with my son has developed over time, so has Bruce's with Damian, for better or worse. There's scenes where they're fighting each other and there's scenes where they reconcile, but I think it's a metaphor for any father-son relationship, which also has links to epic storytelling like Greek mythology and Joseph Campbell's hero's journey. So I think I was able to bring that, not that being a father is unique to me, but it is unique to this particular version of Batman and the continuity of the long-form storytelling in this series.
That is what, I think, will define this Batman in years to come, it's what defined my performance as this Batman and it's what I enjoyed the most. It's probably the most emotional you've ever seen Bruce Wayne and I think it's probably where the line between Bruce and Batman is the most blurred because whether he's in the cape and cowl or not, he's still a father and still susceptible to all the things that fathers are susceptible to in wanting to protect their child at any given moment. I think that's really what I'm most proud of and what will set this version of Batman apart.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War stars Matt Ryan as John Constantine, Jerry O'Connell as Superman, Taissa Farmiga as Raven, Stuart Allan as Robin, Tony Todd as Darkseid, Jason O'Mara as Batman, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore as Cyborg, Christopher Gorham as the Flash, Rebecca Romijn as Lois Lane and Rainn Wilson as Lex Luthor. The film is currently available digitally and will be available on Blu-ray May 19.