Following the announcement of the project, speculation has been rife about whether J.K. Simmons might step into Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man’s boots in the live-action ‘Invincible’ movie. In a recent chat with ComicBook.com, timed with the release of the animated show’s Season 2 Part 2, Simmons addressed these rumors head-on.
Refusing to play the Viltrumite, he thought of another role for himself:
“Absolutely not. I don’t think Omni-Man should be played by a 69-year-old. I mean, again, as far as I know, it’s only rumors. It’s only rumblings that a live-action film would even happen. But maybe there’s a cameo for me as the leader of the Viltrumites in a flashback or something.”
The actor also mentioned a couple of names who could take on his character:
“I always come up with a good answer 20 minutes after we get off the phone. Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, the first two guys I’m thinking of are Ryan Reynolds and… I mean, you’re thinking of the buff guy… Here’s who needs to play Omni-Man… Hugh Jackman.”
The Live-Action Film Is In The Works
The live-action ‘Invincible’ movie is slowly moving forward at Universal, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg writing and directing. While the film still has a long way to go, the show’s creator, Robert Kirkman, shared in 2023 that the animated series has only boosted interest in the film adaptation.
He told ComicBook.com:
“We’re very much still working on that. Sometimes movies take a little bit longer. I think it’s safe to say, if anything, the show has just helped that immensely. People are very excited about that movie potential at Universal. So we’re riding that excitement and trying to push things forward as quickly as possible.”
The Original Show Has Been At The Top Of The Game
In the ‘Invincible’ animated series, 17-year-old Mark Grayson discovers his own superpowers as he finds out that the heroic legacy of his father, who’s the strongest superhero on the planet, might not be what it seems.
The show features a strong cast including Steven Yeun as Mark, alongside Simmons, and voices like Sandra Oh, Walton Goggins, and Zazie Beetz as Debbie Grayson, Cecil Stedman, and Amber Bennett, respectively. The next season will introduce new voices such as Chloe Bennet, Paul F. Tompkins, Peter Cullen, Tim Robinson, Tatiana Maslany, Sterling K. Brown, Phil Lamarr, and Rob Delaney.
