Now in its second season, Invincible has become one of the best superhero shows and one of the top TV shows in recent years. It holds an almost perfect 99% rating from critics and 89% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. J.K. Simmons, who voices Omni-Man, didn’t expect the show to be such a big hit when he first joined.
In a recent interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, Simmons talked about his surprise at the show’s success and how much he enjoyed working with his co-stars, Steven Yeun and Sandra Oh.
“First, Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and I got to record some scenes together, which is rare for animated shows. It helped us set the right mood. I didn’t realize how big the show would get until it came out and people started stopping me on the street to talk about it. The show is so well-made and well-acted. It’s become a big hit, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
It’s not surprising that Simmons didn’t expect such fame from a show where he only provides his voice, not his face. That’s the magic of animation. The show has taken off and become a big part of pop culture, thanks in large part to Simmons’ role as Omni-Man.
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In Season 2, his character left Earth and got captured, so Simmons had a smaller part. But with Allen the Alien (Seth Rogen) now in prison with him and planning an escape, fans hope Simmons will return to a bigger role in Season 3 and beyond.
J.K. Simmons Almost Didn’t Play Omni-Man in ‘Invincible’
It’s tough to picture anyone else as Omni-Man in the first two seasons of Invincible, but creator Robert Kirkman originally thought of a different role for Simmons. Simmons admitted he initially turned down being in the show until he was offered the part of Omni-Man. He shared this in an interview with Collider:
“I didn’t know much about the show’s background and wasn’t a big fan of this type of story. They sent me the script and first asked me to play a different character. I thought it was interesting, but it didn’t seem like the right fit for me. Then they asked me to play Nolan, and I thought, ‘Sure, why not? It’s a cartoon, and it should be fun.’ [Laughs]”
Even though we don’t know which role Simmons was first offered in Invincible, it’s clear that things turned out great when he chose not to take that role. His performance as Omni-Man is one of the best parts of the show, and while he might never play the character in real life, his voice work on the Prime Video series will always be remembered.
We don’t have an official release date for Invincible Season 3 yet. Keep an eye on our news updates, and you can watch the first two seasons of Invincible on Prime Video.
Source: Collider