Stepping into the role of Batman is a dream for many actors, but for Shai Matheson, it still feels surreal. In Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Matheson takes on the role of the Dark Knight while helping celebrate decades of Batman history through the humor and creativity of the LEGO universe. During our conversation, he reflected on inheriting Batman’s legacy, balancing comedy with sincerity, and the unique challenges of game performance work.
“It had to feel like every Batman and none of the previous Batmans at the same time,” Matheson explained when discussing his approach to the role.
Honoring Batman’s Legacy
For Matheson, his connection to Batman began with Batman and Michael Keaton’s iconic portrayal of the character. He described the Burton-era films as the versions that made him fall in love with Batman, while performances like Kevin Conroy further shaped his appreciation for the character over the years.
Rather than imitate previous performances, Matheson wanted his version of Batman to feel authentic to the new story TT Games was telling.
“I could never try and imitate Kevin Conroy or Troy Baker,” he said. “It had to be a new version.”
The Balance Between LEGO Humor and Batman
One of the more interesting aspects of the interview centered around how LEGO Batman stories balance genuine love for the character with self-aware humor. Matheson explained that while the game embraces jokes and playful references, the team approached Batman with sincerity and passion behind the scenes.
“We took this very seriously in what we were doing because everyone making this game genuinely loves Batman,” he shared.
Why Game Performances Are Different
Matheson also spoke about the challenges of acting in video games compared to film and television. Unlike on-screen acting, game performances rely almost entirely on voice, imagination, and direction.
“You only have your voice and your imagination,” he explained while discussing performance work in games.
He also highlighted how much collaboration and context performance directors provide during recording sessions, especially on large narrative-driven projects.
For the full conversation with Shai Matheson, including discussions about Batman fandom, the Batman: Arkham games, and the evolving craft of video game acting, check out the complete interview on Temple of Geek’s YouTube channel.
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