J.K. Simmons Reveals How He Approached Omni-Man's Redemption Arc In INVINCIBLE Season 2

J.K. Simmons Reveals How He Approached Omni-Man's Redemption Arc In INVINCIBLE Season 2

According to J.K. Simmons, he has virtually no knowledge about the direction that Omni Man's story will head in the animated Invincible series despite the comic's completion.

By MarkJulian - Apr 07, 2024 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Invincible
Source: Toonado.com

Actor J.K. Simmons, who does the voice of Omni-Man in the animated Invincible series on Prime Video, has said in a recent interview with Collider that he goes into each season blind and that he was unaware that the start of Omni-Man's redemption arc was coming in season 2.

Said Simmons, "After the initial research, I've steered clear of even looking at the source material anymore. I try to, as hard as it is these days, keep myself ignorant of where the character is gonna go, because, and it sounds silly and kind of actor-y, but even in the animation world, if you're playing a character and you know, “Oh, this is how and where and when he's gonna die, or how and where and when he's gonna kill this person,” or whatever it is."

"I think, on some cellular level, that's not good for your creation of the character. Not “creation,” Robert created it, I'm just a conduit, but it affects how I help bring that character to life in our animated universe."

He continued by saying that he appreciates how animation offers creators the freedom to do almost anything with their characters, making it a "fun" and "unpredictable" experience.

"I love that it continues to be unpredictable and staying true to the source material, but at the same time mixing in some off-speed pitches and allowing for and supplying some surprises along the way, even to people who think they know what's coming," said Simmons.

Did you like season two of Invincible? Share your reviews and your hopes for season 3 in the comment section below.

Invincible Season 2 Synopsis:
Based on the groundbreaking comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, the story revolves around 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who’s just like every other guy his age—except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Still reeling from Nolan’s betrayal in Season 1, Mark struggles to rebuild his life as he faces a host of new threats, all while battling his greatest fear - that he might become his father without even knowing it.

Starring Steven Yeun, with Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Grey DeLisle, Chris Diamantopoulos, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons.

Joining the Season 2 cast are Sterling K. Brown, Peter Cullen, Rob Delaney, Calista Flockhart, Phil LaMarr, Luke MacFarlane, Tatiana Maslany, Scott McNairy, Jay Pharoah, Ella Purnell, Tim Robinson, Ben Schwartz, Rhea Seehorn, Lea Thompson, Paul F. Tompkins, Shantel VanSanten, and more.

The executive producers are Kirkman, Catherine Winder, David Alpert, Simon Racioppa, Margaret M. Dean, Rogen, and Evan Goldberg, and the co-executive producers are Helen Leigh and Walker.

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mountainman
mountainman - 4/7/2024, 11:31 AM
My wife and I were talking about this after watching the episode. In my eyes, he can’t redeem himself. But he can atone for his sins.
RedFury
RedFury - 4/7/2024, 12:17 PM
@mountainman - I agree, there's no coming back from the amount of devastation he caused. No one could forgive such a monster. But like you said he can do his best to offset being such a monster by attempting to do something good, and bigger than him.

I don't know how the comic ends so I have no idea what fate awaits him; but I imagine if he were to sacrifice himself for the greater good it would be a fitting end to a monster changing his destiny.
mountainman
mountainman - 4/7/2024, 12:27 PM
@RedFury - Yeah I’ve gotten little pieces of what happens later but I’m mostly ignorant to it. Just enjoying the ride!

And I do welcome him trying to do good to balance his ledger.
Fares
Fares - 4/7/2024, 12:56 PM
@mountainman - That's the funny thing about redemption. It's interesting how it's perceived by different people. Perhaps I don't understand it or I don't see the difference between it and other similar concepts because English isn't my first language.

To me, all it should take for a person to be accepted once again to the "good side" is a genuine change of heart and willingness to do as much good as possible in order to outweigh the bad that they have done.

The start of doing good doesn't actually need to happen if it's impossible for it to happen, and if it does start, it doesn't actually need to be completed all the way through if it's impossible for it to be completed, either due to the unmeasurable gravity of the bad that has been done or any other limiting factors. As I said, all that should matter is a genuine change of heart and a willingness to devote one's time to do good.

The person doesn't have to be punished, for their guilt -if genuine- should punish them enough. As much as vengeance fuels our hatred for people who wrong us, any punishment we subject them to won't truly benefit anyone, but giving them the opportunity to do good certainly will.

I don't know if that's what we call redemption, but regardless of whether it is or not, the thing I describe is the most important thing for me.

Of course, I'm not talking about the real world here. In the real world, we can't read people's hearts, we can hardly detect genuine change, genuine regret and guilt, and that's why punishment is a necessary evil for the safety of people. But when it comes to fiction, I always find it a bit odd how I can easily accept the change of characters who have done bad things when the story makes it clear that the change is genuine, while other people seem to be more resistant to accept it as easily as I do.
mountainman
mountainman - 4/7/2024, 1:12 PM
@Fares - I admit that I am splitting hairs about terminology here. According to the dictionary, redeeming means “ serving to offset or compensate for a defect”.

How do you offset so many innocent lives taken? You can’t bring them back.

If someone stole something, they could give it back or replace it and the person who was hurt is whole again.

But when it comes to taking innocent lives, you can’t undo that.
Fares
Fares - 4/7/2024, 1:14 PM
@mountainman - I see. Well, I suppose I'll be using the word "redemption" less often than before then.
mountainman
mountainman - 4/7/2024, 4:18 PM
@Fares - It’s somewhat of an opinion. What if he saves billions after he killed thousands? Could some people think that was a redemption? Most likely. But probably not the families of the lives he took.
Fares
Fares - 4/7/2024, 5:13 PM
@mountainman - Yeah I certainly wouldn't blame them. If you believe in a judgement day, or suppose that you do, what kind of fate do you think a person like that should have? Sorry if the question feels too personal or odd, you don't have to answer, I'm just curious how different people see it.
90caliber
90caliber - 4/8/2024, 11:25 AM
@mountainman - But to his son he can redeem himsself.They are going to live a looooooonnnnnnnnnggggggggg time. That's who's forgiveness he'll be looking for.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 4/7/2024, 11:34 AM
That last episode was super emotional. I just wish these seasons weren’t so short.

But I get where he’s coming from. I never understood why an actor wouldn’t want to sink their teeth heavily into the source material, but that makes sense. He’d rather allow the surprises of character development guide the tone of his voice.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 4/7/2024, 11:36 AM
I didn’t read the comic, but how in the world could he ever find reconnection with his ex wife after all of that? Cheating and lying is a stab wound that’s close to death, but genocide is another thing altogether.
EZBeast
EZBeast - 4/7/2024, 12:03 PM
In my opinion this was one of the biggest issues with the character both in the comic and in the show but the latter in particular because of how brutal we are actually witnessing it. Simply put he cannot be redeemed in the eyes of the human race. Sure he could fight to save the universe or something like that but he was responsible for countless death snd destruction with footage to be replayed throughout the ages. Weapons were designed to try and stop him if he attempted this again. You cannot redeem this character but I hope they go down the road of a sacrifice to maybe make him at least noble in the end.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/7/2024, 12:38 PM
He can atone on a personal level, do it for himself. However, many will never support or believe he is worthy of redemption. He is saving myself. Redemption depends on someone’s willingness to face the punishment for their wrongdoing and still change for the better.
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 4/7/2024, 12:56 PM
I really dig this show, but what an anticlimactic season finale. I don't know. Maybe I needed to wait and binge the whole season all at once. Just felt a little soft at the end (that's what she said).
SethBullock
SethBullock - 4/7/2024, 1:07 PM
Thanks for the spoilers in the headline once again for those of us who couldn't watch season 2 yet.
Baf
Baf - 4/7/2024, 6:46 PM
@SethBullock - I was going to say the same thing. I never read the comic and was enjoying the show. Now I know about this Agent Spider guy and how Omni Man ends up. I know its Sunday but geesh, give it a week before you report major spoilers in the headlines without warning. Please.
DanFlashesShirt
DanFlashesShirt - 4/7/2024, 3:26 PM
Still catching up, and didn’t read anything here…. But Omni-Man’s WHAT?!?? HE KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR NO REASON
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 4/7/2024, 4:50 PM
I wonder if they can transition him into live action
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 4/7/2024, 5:46 PM
Does the cartoon stray away from the comic or is it pretty close?
TiberiousOmega
TiberiousOmega - 4/7/2024, 7:48 PM
I can’t wait for season 3. What a great series! Honestly, I could watch an Omni-Man series. Part of me wants to get the comic series. I’ve already stumbled upon a few spoilers anyway.

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