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"Crisis" Management: Kevin Conroy on Showing "Dark Corners of Bruce Wayne" in Arrowverse Crossover

We're officially nearing the end of November – which means The CW's "Arrowverse" shows are in full swing at this point. Arrow is shuffling off the network's programming coil after an abbreviated 10-episode eighth season (making The Flash the "elder states-show" of the "Arrowverse"), Ruby Rose-starrer Batwoman joined the family alongside Supergirl and expanded the Batman mythos in CW's DCU. Let's not forget a looming "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover that's less than a month away – and will change things dramatically, including Black Lightning this time around… and yes, they didn't forget about our crew from DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

With less than two weeks to go before the first chapter of the mega-crossover event begins, animated Batman icon Kevin Conroy is opening up to EW about his role as an older Bruce Wayne ("In this, I explore a lot of [the] dark corners of Bruce Wayne but they're different than the ones I explored on Batman Beyond") and what it was like to be in front of the camera this time:

"There's a real loyalty among the [Batman: The Animated Series] fanbase and an interest in seeing me do it on-camera as well. So I think they thought this was an opportunity to take advantage of that interest."

Though Conroy has voiced both Bruce Wayne and Batman in a number of projects over the years, he was surprised by how much of a challenge it was to play Bruce in person:

"It threw me at first. I never approached this character from that physicalized aspect. I always just inhabited him with my voice. When you do that in a recording studio, it's a very intimate experience and you're sort of living in your own imagination. You do it with your eyes clothes and you're in this other world, and you have Mark Hamill feeding you all the energy you [need], and the other actors (because we always recorded together in the booths).

To actually be on the set, in the physical world, and to be walking as the character and inhabiting the character in three dimensions, it was a real transition for me. It did take a while to get used to, I have to admit. I was surprised because I know the character so well."

Appearing in Batwoman "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two", Conroy thanks co-stars Rose and Melissa Benoist for helping him make the adjustment to life in front of the camera:

"Everybody was so generous to work with. I can't emphasize how enough how welcoming everyone was, especially Ruby. She is so open and giving. I just fell into her eyes at one point and we just connected on camera. It was wonderful. I felt like I was working with old friends I'd known for years. There was just such trust there that I could open up to them on camera."

After offering up teasers, official overviews for the first three chapters (see below), preview images for the Supergirl and Batwoman opening chapters (here and here), and the crossover's official poster, The CW released a new teaser that amps up the dire consequences that come from the Anti-Monitor getting his way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBLrm7xxxlM

Last week, The CW offered fans a look at the official overviews for the first three chapters – and there's a ton to unpack here. From when Kevin Conroy's Bruce Wayne, Cress Williams' Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning, Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor, and Osric Chau's Ryan Choi appear to where John Wesley Shipp's The Flash-90 has been to a… "Crisis on Infinte Clarks"(???), here's a look at what viewers can expect:

Supergirl: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One": THE KICKOFF TO THE EPIC TELEVISON CROSSOVER EVENT, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS – The Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) sends Harbinger (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) to gather the worlds' greatest heroes – Supergirl (Melissa Benoist), The Flash (guest star Grant Gustin), Green Arrow (guest star Stephen Amell), Batwoman (guest star Ruby Rose), White Canary (guest star Caity Lotz), The Atom (guest star Brandon Routh) and Superman (guest star Tyler Hoechlin) – in preparation for the impending Crisis. With their worlds in imminent danger, the superheroes suit up for battle while J'onn (David Harewood) and Alex (Chyler Leigh) recruit Lena (Katie McGrath) to help them find a way to save the people of Earth-38.

Batwoman "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two" CAN THE REAL CLARK KENT PLEASE STAND UP? PART TWO OF CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS CONTINUES WITH SPECIAL GUEST STARS TOM WELLING, ERICA DURANCE AND KEVIN CONROY – The group uses Ray's (guest star Brandon Routh) invention to track new recruits to help save the universe. The Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) sends Iris (guest star Candice Patton), Clark (guest star Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois (guest star Elizabeth Tulloch) in search of a mysterious Kryptonian, while Kate (Ruby Rose) and Kara (guest star Melissa Benoist) head out to find Bruce Wayne (guest star Kevin Conroy). In addition, Mia (guest star Katherine McNamara) challenges Sara (guest star Caity Lotz), Rory (guest star Dominic Purcell) discovers a hidden talent, and Lex Luthor (guest star Jon Cryer) returns.

The Flash "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three": BLACK LIGHTNING JOINS THE ARROWVERSE IN THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE CROSSOVER – Pariah (Tom Cavanagh) enlists Black Lightning (guest star Cress Williams) to help stop the Anti-Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) after Flash-90 (guest star John Wesley Shipp) shares what he learned from his battle in 'Elseworlds.' With the help of Black Lightning, Barry (Grant Gustin), Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker) come up with a plan that could save them all. Meanwhile, Iris (Candice Patton) has a heart-to-heart with Ryan Choi (guest star Osric Chau), while Oliver (guest star Stephen Amell) and Diggle (guest star David Ramsey) return to an old familiar stomping ground.

"Crisis on Infinite Earths!" Worlds will live! Worlds will die!

And the CW's "Arrowverse" will never be the same…

Supergirl – Sunday, December 8th (8/7c)

Batwoman – Monday, December 9th (8/7c)

The Flash – Tuesday, December 10th (8/7c)

Arrow – Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (8/7c)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow – Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (9/8c)

Yes, the rumors are true! Legendary Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy will star as a future version of Bruce Wayne. We're even getting 60's Batman "boy wonder" Burt Ward making an appearance.

If that wasn't enough, Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch are returning as "The Man of Steel" and Lois Lane… alongside another of the crossover's Supermen: Brandon Routh (DC's Legends of Tomorrow), returning to the cape for the first time since his cinematic turn in Superman Returns, portraying the Kingdom Come version of the iconic superhero.

Still not enough Superman? How about Smallville co-stars Tom Welling and Erica Durance joining the crossover as Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively (and rumblings that someone from Smallville isn't too happy about the way they were approached regarding being a part of "Crisis").

Johnathon Schaech's Jonah Hex (DC's Legends of Tomorrow) is also set to saddle up for the crossover, and John Wesley Shipp will be reprising his role as The Flash of Earth-90. Ashley Scott will be returning to the role of Helena Kyle aka Huntress from The WB's short-run 2002 series Birds of Prey.

Osric Chau will recur in the role of physics professor Ryan Choi, who would take on his idol Ray Palmer's (Routh in DC's Legends of Tomorrow) former position at Ivy University – with the future Justice Leaguer following in his footsteps in the "hero department" as well.

Let's not forget Arrow co-star Audrey Marie Anderson's Lyla Michaels, who is set (appropriately enough) for the role of The Monitor's (LaMonica Garrett) Harbinger; and The Flash multitasker Tom Cavanagh on board as bad-luck sign Pariah. Of couse, we would be remiss if we didn't give a returning Emily Bett Rickards her proper respect.

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