"He really defined and captured the essence of Batman" - How Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's Shai Matheson honours the legendary Kevin Conroy

Batman, you've probably heard of him. This masked hero of the night has been protecting Gotham City across films, TV series, comic books and games for over 80 years. Many actors have portrayed Batman since his comic book-conception, with the likes of Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and Robert Pattinson all taking on the role in films (and, who can forget George Clooney's nipple suit for his turn as Batman). In the games, meanwhile, we have seen names like Troy Baker and Will Arnett voicing the Caped Crusader. Of course, there is also late, great Kevin Conroy, who is seen by many as the definitive take on both Batman and Bruce Wayne.

Now, there is a new bat on the block with Shai Matheson voicing the DC hero in Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. As the game's name suggests, the latest take on Gotham is a bricktastic homage to all the stories that have gone before, with many Easter eggs and deep cuts humorously weaved throughout the game. But, how does Matheson similarly pay homage to the legacy of Batmans before him?

Speaking with Eurogamer, Matheson admits "taking on the mantle of The Dark Knight is the most daunting task [he's] ever had to face", but one that comes with a deep admiration for the series. "As a fan, I didn't have a single inspiration - but rather a lifetime of love for Batman that coursed through my veins and laid dormant somewhere in my subconscious, ready for the Bat Signal to shine, to be let out," Matheson says. "As an actor, the only way to approach the character was not to try to sound like any other Batman. That's also what the developers [TT Games] wanted. They wanted a new story, a retelling. Not the same Batman we've already seen, but in some ways all the Batmans we've seen."

Matheson notes every Batman fan has their own "definitive" version of DC's hero. "Our favourite icons tend to be the ones we were first exposed to, or that made us fall in love with the character, usually when we were kids. My OG is Michael Keaton. I’ll never forget seeing Batman 89 with my sister in the cinema, being scared and enthralled at the same time," he says.

But while for Matheson it was Burton's Batman who first ignited his love for the Caped Crusader, for many others it is "obviously" Kevin Conroy. Conroy - who along with his animated and film work is also beloved for his role as Batman in Rocksteady's Arkham games and NetherRealm's superhero fighter Injustice - passed away in 2022 aged 66 following a battle with cancer.

Image credit: Kim Hardy

"He really defined and captured the essence of Batman, and the duality of living as Bruce Wayne," Matheson says of Conroy. "His voice embodied menace and vulnerability, pathos and relatability. And he got to do it for decades and in all mediums. To go from the animated show to Arkham and be the same yet different - is simply remarkable. He is vengeance. He is the night. He is Batman."

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight pays tribute to Conroy in "a couple of ways", Matheson tells me, without giving more away in order to preserve the thrill of discovery for players, though many have already spotted a billboard in TT Games' Gotham which promotes a radio show called 'After Hours With Conroy… The Voice Of Gotham's Night' ("How great is that?").

"But for me, the way to honour him, and every talented actor who played Batman before me, was to continue their legacy, not try to replicate it," Matheson continues. "There will always be one of each of them. I could never compare, nor would I want to. I can only do my own take, tell the singular story that TT Games wanted to tell, and hope and pray I don't let them and the fans down. All those actors created a character based on the moment they were in and the vision of their collaborators. That's how all actors approach a role, while adding their own flair and unique touch. I'm there to help the devs, not the other way round."

Matheson namechecks fellow Batman actors Arnett (who he says was "born to play the part") and Baker. "Our Lego Batman is a new version - young Bruce to older Bats - a kind of 'mash up' of all the other stories (from comics to TV to cinema and more)," he says in closing. "To be even listed among these actors (and incredible others in the role) is a mind-blowing honour.

"I hope people love our version and have as much fun playing it as we did creating it!"

Image credit: Eurogamer

Along with Matheson, comedian Matt Berry has been confirmed as the voice of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's Bane.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is available now across PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC (Steam, Epic). It will also come to Switch 2 at a later date. We recently awarded Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight four stars, with Christian Donlan calling it "an endless parade of references and gags that's difficult to resist".