Few superheroes have a voice as iconic as that of The Dark Knight. For years, different performers have put unique spins on it in an attempt to make it their own. Sometimes this attempt works, and other times it's not as successful. While promoting Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, and Henry Cavill recently took to the stage of The Graham Norton Show and tried their hands at their best Batman impressions. Check out the video below to see more.
The segment begins with host Graham Norton talking to the cast about the voice used by Batman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Ben Affleck explains that, unlike previous Batmen, the voice was changed in post to make it sound like he had a voice modulator built into his cowl. Building off of that, Norton then brings out a microphone with a similar modulator built in, and hands it to the cast. One by one they go down the line; Affleck pretends to be Batman ordering pizza, Amy Adams uttered the now iconic "do you bleed?" line, and Henry Cavill said everyone’s favorite Batman line, "I’m Batman," although he went on to insinuate that Batman may be harboring some romantic feelings for Superman.
I don’t know about you, but for some reason Amy Adams seems to have the best Batman voice of them all. Maybe that’s just my own opinion, but it's something different from what we have seen before.
The use of a voice modulator has become somewhat controversial. Within the DC universe it makes sense, because Bruce Wayne is in fact a mega-celebrity, and people might recognize his voice. It’s an idea that has become relatively common, and even incorporated into the narrative of The CW’s Arrow, which similarly follows a billionaire, celebrity vigilante. However, some people have made the argument that it takes away from the animalistic nature of Batman – an assessment that I partially agree with.
Take a look at the vide below to see a comparison of all the Batman voices over the years:
What’s your favorite Batman voice of all time? Is it Ben Affleck, a previous Batman, or is it one of the impersonations that occurred on The Graham Norton Show? Be sure to comment below and tell us what you think. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is in theaters now, check it out!
