Kevin Conroy‘s voice has become synonymous with Batman, with the actor even playing DC’s Dark Knight in live-action once, but it has been revealed that fans missed out on what could have been a truly amazing live-action performance from the star. Conroy first played Bruce Wayne in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series, which ended in 1995. Despite the end of the series, Conroy would continue voicing the character in some of the best Batman animated series, movies, and video games for decades.

While the star was known for his voice acting as Batman, Conroy got the chance to play the character in live-action once. The actor portrayed the Kingdom Come version of Bruce Wayne, who was a disillusioned crime-fighter, in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. Conroy’s acting in the role was praised, though the direction chosen for the Batman actor in live-action was far from ideal, as fans wanted Conroy to play a heroic Batman. Now, it turns out that a scrapped live-action Batman role for Conroy would have done exactly that.

Gotham Knights Was Set To Feature Kevin Conroy Training Robin

Conroy’s Only Live-Action Batman Role Was In The Arrowverse

Speaking to Multiverse of Color’s The Showrunner Whisperer podcast, Gotham Knights showrunners Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux revealed that they wanted Kevin Conroy to play Bruce Wayne in the DC series.

Gotham Knights aired for one season on The CW, with the series focusing on a new generation of heroes rising to protect Gotham City in the wake of Batman’s murder. Conroy would have played Batman in a key flashback, and his role would have been directly tied to one of the most iconic DC Comics Batman stories.

The showrunners revealed that they were given permission to use Batman in one episode. Conroy would have appeared in the full Batman suit for a scene taken from DC Comics’ “The Dark Knight Returns.” Conroy’s Batman would have been shown in a flashback sequence with Gotham Knights‘ Robin, Carrie Kelley, and that would become a key part of the young heroine’s past in the series. While Conroy did not show up as Batman, the series still alluded to Robin’s past with Batman and even cast a photo double similar to Conroy for Batman in its pilot.

Why Gotham Knights’ Conroy Cameo Didn’t Happen

Real Life Got In The Way

There is a sad reason why Conroy could not play Batman in Gotham Knights. The actor passed away after a battle with intestinal cancer on November 10, 2022. When the Gotham Knights crew got permission to use Batman, Conroy was already too sick to shoot his scene. Gotham Knights‘ Two-Face actor Misha Collins then tried to bring in his Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles as Batman, which also did not work out. In the end, Kevin Conroy‘s final Batman roles were reserved for the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three.