Invincible creator says J.K. Simmons was initially offered a different role in the hit Prime Video show: "We sent him the script and he was like, 'I'd rather be Omni-Man'"

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Invincible creator Robert Kirkman says J.K. Simmons was initially offered a different (though fitting) role in the hit Prime Video series.

"We initially offered him another role," Kirkman said on the Escape Pod Podcast. "It might've been Cecil... It was fun because we sent him the script, and he was like, 'I would rather play Omni-Man.' And we were like, yeah, that would be great."

At this point, it's hard to imagine anyone else voicing the role of morally grey anti-hero and all-around deadbeat dad Nolan Grayson, aka Omni-Man. In 2024, Simmons told GQ that he initially passed on Invincible altogether because he didn't see himself as playing Cecil, despite thinking the series seemed "really smart and weird and cool." After feeling more of a connection with Omni-Man, the studio came back and offered him the role.

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The role of Cecil, the leader of the Global Defense Agency, went to none other than Walton Goggins.

Simmons has now voiced Omni-Man for four seasons, with season 5 currently in the works. It's also another fun full-circle comic book moment, as Simmons has played Spider-Man skeptic and Daily Bugle Editor J. Jonah Jameson on screen since Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man (and is, 24 years later, the only actor to play him in a live-action feature)... and Invincible and Spider-Man have teamed up in Kirman's comics. Omni-Man does also resemble J. Jonah Jameson what with the mustache and salt-and-pepper hair, but that may just be some weird cosmic coincidence.

Invincible seasons 1-4 are available to watch on Prime Video. Invincible season 5 has been confirmed and is set to air sometime in 2027. For more, check out our picks for the best anime and best Prime Video shows to watch in 2026.

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Lauren MiliciSenior Entertainment Writer

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ based in New York City. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

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