Long before Chris Pratt became a household name in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he took on a small role in a different comic-inspired series. Pratt lent his voice to a side character in an episode of *The Batman*, an animated series that aired from 2004 to 2008. The episode, titled **”Attack of the Terrible Trio,”** features Batman (voiced by Rino Romano) facing off against a group of college students who use a mysterious formula to infuse themselves with animal-like abilities.
Even if you caught the episode when it originally aired, you’d be forgiven for missing Pratt’s voice among the cast. He plays Jake, a character only loosely connected to the main action. Jake is one of the first to notice something strange about the group, since his roommate is a member of the Terrible Trio.
This episode marked Pratt’s first voice acting role, but it certainly wasn’t his last. Since then, he has voiced major characters in some of the biggest animated films of all time, including *The Lego Movie* (2014) and *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* (2023).
While Pratt went on to become the beloved Star-Lord in the MCU, DC Universe fans are still watching and waiting for his official entrance into their world. Discussions about Pratt joining James Gunn’s reboot of the DCU have sparked intense debate, with fans imagining a variety of roles for him. However, nearly everyone agrees that the character Jake from *The Batman* doesn’t need a live-action adaptation.
### Why Chris Pratt’s Role in *The Batman* Isn’t Likely to Translate
Several factors work against a live-action Jake from *The Batman* animated episode. For one, the episode is part of *The Batman* series, not the fan-favorite *Batman: The Animated Series* from the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), which holds a special place for many fans.
More importantly, the villains featured in the episode—the Terrible Trio—haven’t historically been well-received. Debuting in 1958 as just regular people wearing animal masks, the Trio have only appeared sporadically in comics. Their origin stories and motivations have been changed so often that fans have struggled to form attachments to these characters.
The episode *Attack of the Terrible Trio* did little to reverse fans’ lukewarm feelings. While it didn’t overwhelmingly disappoint, it certainly didn’t impress most viewers. On IMDb, the episode holds a modest rating of 6.7 out of 10, placing it among the lower-ranked episodes of *The Batman*.
Fans discussing the episode online have criticized its plot but acknowledged one interesting twist: the Trio actually become animal mutants rather than merely wearing animal masks. This variation received some praise amid otherwise mixed reviews.
### The Future of the Terrible Trio and Chris Pratt in the DCU
On platforms like Reddit, some DC fans have speculated about the possibility of the Terrible Trio appearing as main villains in an upcoming live-action *Batman* movie. A small minority expressed curiosity about how the Trio might fit into Matt Reeves’ *Batman* universe. Still, most remain unconvinced, viewing the Trio as an uninteresting choice for adaptation.
Whether or not the Terrible Trio ever returns to the big screen, don’t hold your breath for Chris Pratt to come along with them. Pratt voiced Jake back in 2008, just a year before he gained recognition as Andy Dwyer on *Parks and Recreation*. Since then, Pratt has proven himself a bankable star both in front of the camera and behind the microphone.
His career highlights include starring in multiple *Jurassic World* films, embodying Star-Lord in the MCU, and leading roles in major animated movies. His vocal performances in *The Lego Movie* and *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* showcase his versatility.
### What James Gunn Has to Say
In August 2025, James Gunn confirmed that he’s not considering Pratt for the role of Batman. However, Gunn emphasized that he is definitely thinking about Pratt for another character in the DC Universe. Whether this future role will appear in a live-action movie or an animated series remains unclear.
Fans have eagerly followed the casting announcements for Gunn’s DCU, and while Pratt won’t be stepping into the cowl, he is widely expected to land a much more prominent part than Jake from *The Batman*.
Chris Pratt’s journey from a minor voice role in an animated series to a leading figure in Hollywood’s superhero franchises illustrates his dynamic range and star power. Whatever his next DCU role turns out to be, it’s sure to be a significant one.
https://www.looper.com/2016268/chris-pratt-the-batman-character-voice-jake/