Invincible
will be getting a live-action remake, but that means finding the perfect actors to fill the roles that have already become so familiar on the small screen. Invincible is not a new story. The comics were originally published back in 2003, with Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead series of stories, spearheading the comic.
And while there have been attempts to adapt the stories before, the success of the Prime Video series that began airing in 2021 was on another level. And in part, this is down to the incredible cast and crew who brought the stories to life. Among them, one of the most vital characters to get right is Omni-Man, aka Nolan Grayson, the world’s greatest hero, who is quickly revealed to be its biggest threat. And J.K. Simmons, voicing the hero in the animated show, was an inspired choice, but he may not be the right fit for the live-action Invincible movie.
10
Jon Hamm
There is no denying how much Simmons’ imparted to the role of Omni-Man, and how perfectly he captured the duality of the tyrannical Viltrumite. However, he is also 70 years old. And more than that, Simmons has an intimidating and strong character, but he has never really played the part of a superhero.
Related
Invincible’s 10 Best Episodes (So Far)
Invincible has been a consistently quality series ever since it premiered in 2021, but these ten episodes manage to just beat out the others.
The thing is, playing a superhero requires a certain physique, an air of authority, and the right look. And with that in mind, there are better fits for the part of Omni-Man. And one of the very best suggestions out there is Jon Hamm. Hamm is a big, impressive, and commanding presence on screen. He has played soldiers, bad boys, and more, but it’s criminal that he has yet to play the part of a major superhero. And when considering who could effectively play the part of Omni-Man, Hamm is well worth considering.
9
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Another incredible actor who could tackle the role of a monstrous hero is Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Morgan has played heroic characters like the father of Sam and Dean Winchester in Supernatural, and he has played truly evil villains like Negan in The Walking Dead. He also has experience donning a superhero costume in Watchmen, where he played the Comedian.
Morgan is a versatile actor who plays the villain extremely well. He can be intimidating, powerful, and downright monstrous. But he can also play a caring, if not a little distant, father as seen in Supernatural. Arguably, in terms of experience, Morgan may be the best suited person to play the part.
8
Hugh Jackman
Another experienced superhero, Hugh Jackman, is one of the most recognizable faces in superhero films. Having played Wolverine for the last 25 years, Jackman is someone who perfectly embodied and became the face of the comic book hero, despite not necessarily being a perfect match for the part when looking at the source material.
Related
Invincible Has 5 Running Jokes That Make Me Laugh Every Single Time
Invincible has had a lot of running gags throughout its three seasons, but these five jokes are the ones that have me laughing the most.
In recent years, Jackman has also embraced some darker, more villainous roles, and even returned to the role of Wolverine, but with a twist from his earlier portrayals. Jackman is versatile, talented, and can pull off playing a real monster. Which makes him a great fit for Omni-Man.
7
Josh Brolin
However, there are some actors who have dedicated more time in their career to playing the supervillains. Josh Brolin played the major antagonist in the MCU’s Infinity Saga, Thanos, though that character relied heavily on CGI with inspiration from Brolin. Simultaneously, he also played Cable in Deadpool 2, which saw him tackle a very different antagonistic character.
Brolin is a powerful actor who can transform a typical villain role into something more interesting. When it comes to Omni-Man, he may be a real monster for much of the time, but there is also a side to him that is buried deep beneath his alien nature. Brolin is great at balancing these complexities.
6
Karl Urban
Karl Urban’s biggest role of the last couple of years is easily his leading role in the Prime Video series, The Boys. This show, alongside Invincible, has established Prime as one of the most successful producers of alternative superhero stories with gritty narratives and darker themes. So, it could make sense for Prime to reach out to their star, Urban, and consider putting him into Invincible.
Related
Am I the Only One Who Remembers the First Invincible TV Show? It’s a Must For Comic Readers
Amazon’s Invincible TV show is a hit, but there is a chance that the series would’ve never seen the light of day if not for a forgotten gem by MTV.
Urban is great at playing an anti-hero, using extreme measures to achieve his goals, and acting selfishly. Omni-Man ultimately chooses to ditch his family in order to fulfill his mission as a Viltrumite, completely discarding relationships and friendships he formed along the way. This about turn is something that Urban could deliver in an extremely compelling way.
5
Anthony Starr
Starring opposite Urban in The Boys, Anthony Starr plays his ultimate rival, Homelander. Homelander is a true monster, and potentially one of the characters most like Omni-Man currently on screen. However, it’s hard to imagine tha Omni-Man would have any sympathy for the incredibly fragile and temperamental Homelander.
But this very element of despising those who he qualifies as less than him is the thing that binds both characters, and could make Omni-Man a natural progression to an even more monstrous character for Starr to tackle. Starr completely embodies the role of being a monster whose power makes him capable of wiping out other heroes and people on a whim, and as Omni-Man, that could be even more terrifying to watch unfold.
4
Terry Crews
Moving away from the traditional look of the character for a moment, Omni-Man embodies raw, unbridled power. Everything about him screams the ability to tear people in two with his bare hands. And when taking that into account as potentially the most important element of the character, one actor springs to mind, Terry Crews.
Related
Forget Omni-Man, Invincible’s Worst Character Isn’t the Person You’d Expect
The worst villain in Invincible isn’t Omni-Man, or any other maniacal super-powered mastermind. The truth is, he’s not even the worst father.
In general, Crews is accustomed to playing physically intimidating characters with a sweet personality, but he has played characters who are filled with rage and aggression too. And if the most important part of capturing this alien from another planet who could really look any kind of way, is getting his intimidating physical presence across, then Crews could be the perfect person to play the part.
3
Clancy Brown
Clancy Brown is on the older side, with J.K. Simmons being just four years older than him. However, Brown has a much larger frame and a more intimidating visage that has landed him a variety of villainous roles in the past, including playing the antagonistic Captain Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption, and more recently, crime boss Salvatore Maroni in The Penguin.
Brown has the versatility, the intensity, and the look to pull off Omni-Man. It’s mainly down to whether the part would be of interest to him or if he feels up to the task physically. Otherwise, Brown could be an incredible Omni-Man in the live-action Invincible movie.
2
Joe Manganiello
Joe Manganiello has an incredibly impressive physique, and he adores nerdier genres of films and shows. He has previously been tagged to play a major villain for DC, where he was set to play Deathstroke in a solo movie after debuting in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. However, that didn’t pan out. But in terms of physical looks, and his ability to play a superhero, Manganiello is a great choice.
Related
All 3 Invincible Seasons, Ranked Worst To Best
The fantastic installment of Invincible season 3 has wrapped up, and the burning question is how it ranks in comparison to its two predecessors.
Manganiello could pull off this character, though his acting experience is generally less pronounced than many of the other names on this list. Despite that, Manganiello is a talented actor who deserves a shot to play a part that can really showcase his range and ability, and Omni-Man could be just that.
1
Henry Cavill
Finally, Henry Cavill has been tied to dozens of roles since the end of the DCEU, with the former Superman actor being fancast to many other franchises, but that is largely down to how well he was able to pull off the darker version of the world’s most popular superhero. Cavill is a force who is more than capable of pulling off these huge spectacular parts.
When it comes to Omni-Man, Cavill’s biggest issue may be the fact that he is a little too young, since Omni-Man is canonically about 2000 years old, though he looks to be in his 50s. Cavill could potentially be aged up a little to play the part, and as long as he can channel the inner darkness, he could be a perfect choice to play the part of Omni-Man in a live-action Invincible remake.
Invincible
8/10
- Release Date
-
March 26, 2021
- Network
-
Amazon Prime Video
