JK Simmons is a name that comic book fans instantly recognize, and for good reason. However, she may not have been the voice of Omni-Man in the Prime Video series Invincible.
The beloved actor opened up in an interview with GQ for his video series “Iconic Characters,” in which he revisited some of the most memorable characters he has played throughout his career. During this conversation, Simmons revealed a surprising fact: He initially turned down a role in Invincible. But what is even more shocking is that the role he was initially offered was not that of Omni-Man.
An almost missed opportunity
“Invincible came to me out of nowhere,” Simmons told GQ. “I read, I think, the only script available at the time and thought it was really good. In fact, I was originally asked to play another character, and when I read it I thought, ‘This is so smart and weird and cool.’ Even though it sounds silly, because it’s animated, I didn’t see myself as the character they wanted me to play, so I turned it down. Then, months later, they asked me to play again. Nolan, the omni-man.”
It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Simmons voicing the intimidating and complex Omni-Man today. His performance has been acclaimed by critics and fans alike, who recognize the depth and nuance Simmons brings to the character. It’s fascinating to think that, by a twist of fate, another voice could have brought the series’ most feared villain to life.
Omni-Man’s Dark Transformation
Simmons went on to reveal that when he took the role, he had no idea how dark and twisted his character’s arc would be. “I don’t think I knew how twisted it was at the time,” he confessed. “I was just reading the first script, the first two. To me, it was just another interesting dad character. Steven Yeun And Sandra Oh They were already confirmed and I thought, “They’re awesome and I’d love to work with them, even if it’s in a recording studio doing animation.”
In the seriesSimmons plays a Nolan Graysonalso known as Omni-Man, the protagonist’s father, Grayson Marks/Invincible. At first, viewers believe that Omni-Man is the most powerful superhero in the world, but the series soon reveals his true nature, leaving audiences stunned with its ruthless twist.
JK Simmons and her comic book legacy
For Simmons fans, it’s no surprise that he’s been given such a prominent role. Invinciblegiven his history in the comic book world. Simmons is known for his iconic portrayal of Jonah Jamesonthe editor-in-chief of Daily Trumpet in the trilogy of Spiderman From Sam Raimi. This role cemented him as a fan-favorite actor, leading him to reprise the character in the film MCU In Spider-Man: Far From Home And Spider-Man: No Way Home. Additionally, he voiced the character in several Marvel animated series, including The Ultimate Spider-Man.
But his foray into the world of comics doesn’t stop there. He also played Simmons Commissioner James Gordon in both versions of Justice Leaguethe movie DC Extended Universe. In addition to this, he lent his voice General Wade Eiling in the animated series Justice League Unlimited.
Simmons’ Future on Prime Video
With two seasons already available in Main VideoThe series left an indelible mark among fans of adult animated series.
It’s intriguing to think about how one simple decision could have changed the course of this hit series. But in the end, fans of Invincible You can be grateful that Simmons accepted the role of Omni-Man, delivering a performance that brought to life one of the most complex and terrifying characters in animated television.
Simmons has proven time and time again that it doesn’t matter if he’s playing a grumpy newspaper editor, a police commissioner, or a superhero with dark secrets; his ability to inhabit any role is undeniable. Fans can’t wait to see what else Simmons has in store for the future, whether in Invincible or in any other projects he chooses to tackle.