As Spider-Man: Brand New Day's release gets closer on the 2026 movie schedule, J.K. Simmons is going viral for his recent run-in with the hero at a baseball game. While the J. Jonah Jameson actor didn't react quite as strongly as his fictional counterpart might have to seeing the webslinger, his reaction was perfection.

Simmons was seen at a New York Mets game on the Jumbotron, with a familiar Marvel superhero hanging out just behind him. I feel reasonably safe in assuming it wasn't Tom Holland in costume behind him, but I loved the moment all the same. Check it out:

Isn't that the best? Of course, Simmons wasn't going to blow a fuse like the real Jameson would've done if the real Spider-Man was just hanging out behind him, but the closed fist wave was all he needed to effectively sell the moment.

Of course, J. Jonah Jameson's feud with Spider-Man hasn't been quite as substantial in the MCU, as Tom Holland admitted he still has yet to meet Simmons in person. Sam Raimi's films, the comics, and, of course, the animated shows available with a Disney+ subscription did a lot of the heavy lifting in making this moment so great for Mets fans who know Jameson despises the webslinger.

At the moment, we don't know if J.K. Simmons will return as Jameson in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but I hope he does. Back when he was head of The Daily Bugle, Peter Parker was able to get a job as a photographer taking photos of Spider-Man. Is there an opening for Parker to work for Jameson at his new outlet, maybe providing GoPro footage or something of that nature?

There is an opening for Parker to get a new mentor or confidant, with Iron Man out of the picture and Jon Favreau confirming Happy won't be a part of the story. Honestly, I'd love the subversion of expectation if J. Jonah Jameson ended up being a great friend to Peter Parker. However, something tells me that no matter the universe, those two will always have a tense relationship.

Relationships seem to be a key point of interest in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as Peter adapts to a new life in which everyone has forgotten he existed. MJ and Ned have forgotten their shared ride-or-die friendships and past adventures, and I'm curious how Peter has coped with that while still fulfilling his duties as Spider-Man. Of course, there's no shortage of action either, as we've seen in clips.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will swing into theaters on July 31. I'm excited to see how this adventure shakes out, especially with Avengers: Doomsday coming up after. However, right now, I'm living for the shenanigans the webslinger is getting into at the baseball park.

A beautiful face can get you places in Hollywood, but how boring would it be if every actor populating the 2026 movie calendar looked like Sexiest Man Alive Jonathan Bailey or Michael B. Jordan? OK, maybe that was a bad example, but still, there are countless great character actors who may sport a more unique look, and fans are making their voices heard after a list went around claiming that guys like Gary Oldman, Walton Goggins and Alan Tudyk were “not hot enough to be a lead.”

There’s definitely more to being “hot” than having a chiseled jaw and rock-hard abs, and a good personality can be significantly more important (even Sydney Sweeney doesn’t want to date a jerk). So when stars like J.K. Simmons, David Dastmalchian, Steve Buscemi and Paul Dano showed up on a Reddit post asking for people’s “Favorite ugly bastard we call a ‘character actor’ as a nice way of saying they’re just not hot enough to be a lead?,” fanbases were activated. BabypintoJuniorLube responded with a timely comparison, writing:

Forget the fact that a lot of the men put forward by the original poster have been the lead in movies and on TV, because Redditors really took issue with the suggestion that these actors are ugly in the first place.

Gary Oldman seems to have gotten the lion’s share of responses, with fans imploring people to look past his flatulent-heavy role on Slow Horses to remember Sid and Nancy, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and even the Harry Potter movies. Comments included:

• Dude was sexy! Watched an older movie with him in it recently and my ex was like "wait is that.... sexy Gary Oldman??” – dragonflyzmaximize
• I’m (mostly) lesbian but Gary Oldman as Dracula at his first meeting of Mina WAS panty-dropping – Pan_Fluid_Boo
• Gary does not belong in that list. – idntknww
• As an Oldwoman myself, I can assure you that Sir Gary is still Hotasf--kman. – JessicaGriffin
• Seriously, we’re calling Gary Oldman ugly nowadays? – Hoppy-Poppy17
• I’m so confused, I thought he was super hot in Prisoner of Azkaban. – Late-Summer-1208

As for Walton Goggins, who blew up after his roles on The White Lotus and Fallout, plenty of fans said the Redditor was out of their mind for including him on the “not hot” list, writing:

• Women are drooling over Walton Goggins in the Fallout show and he doesn’t even have a nose in that one. – Misplacedwaffle
• Frankly that show [Fallout] is dare I say the hottest he’s ever been. He just oozes charisma – DowntownAd9720
• Goggins’ appeal is his confidence and energy, he’s got a whole vibe. Source: my wife – lefthandtrav
• Walton Goggins has always been objectively very good looking I don’t know what the hell he is doing here. – ValToolTime

Even Alan Tudyk’s inclusion got people fired up, inspiring comments like FigureUnusual4439’s “Would smash,” and catchyerselfon asking if the OP had even seen the Firefly actor’s “large semi-muscular physique.” One Redditor said the post was so misguided that others should have been consulted first:

Look, the sexy rat boyfriend is a real thing, guys. Timothée Chalamet is talking about marrying Kylie Jenner, and Pete Davidson just had a baby with model girlfriend Elsie Hewitt, for crying out loud.

There are a lot of classically beautiful men in Hollywood, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with that. But attractiveness is subjective, and the above fans know it goes much deeper than looks. Reddit user Impressive_Answer297 may have said it best:

If Gary Oldman, Walton Goggins, Paul Dano and the rest are involved, sign me up!

Everyone loves a ruthless TV villain. From Cersei Lannister to J.R. Ewing to Mr. Burns, great villains come in all kinds of ways on our television schedule. They may be cold and calculating, or they may be impulsive and crazy, but a great villain always makes for a much better show. This is a list of just a few of my favorite and most ruthless villains in TV history. Enjoy! If you don't, they may come for you.

J.R. Ewing (Dallas)

J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) was a villain who was so cunning and so ruthless that when he was shot on the Season 3 finale of Dallas, literally all of America waited months to find out who shot him. It wasn't just one of the best cliffhangers ever; it was a cultural moment that I don't think will ever be matched.

Livia Soprano (The Sopranos)

When you're a mob boss and your worst enemy is your mother, you know you're in a bad spot. Livia Soprano, Tony's domineering and, frankly, nasty, mother, played by the late Nancy Marchand, was a brilliant antagonist for the powerful boss of the family. She was so underhanded and so unhinged at times, you never knew just what she was capable of or if there was any good in her at all. It would have been amazing to see where her character went, had we not tragically lost Marchand during the show's run.

Kilgrave (Jessica Jones)

Kilgrave, played by David Tennant in Jessica Jones, just might be my favorite comic book villain in the modern era. The fact that his ability to change the reality you understand in your own head is diabolical and terrifying. Tennant's performance is flat-out amazing.

Gus Fring (Breaking Bad)

Giancarlo Esposito's performance as Gus Fring, the mortal enemy of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) in Breaking Bad, is simply terrifying. He's calm and cold while exacting terrible violence. He's ruthless in his pursuit to control the game, and he's completely without remorse. It's the perfect combination to make an amazing villain.

Nina Myers (24)

There is nothing more ruthless than turning on your co-worker and country, like Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) did in Season 1 of 24. It was a moment that completely blew viewers' minds, who never could have predicted that Jack Bauer's right-hand woman would end up the villain.

Negan (The Walking Dead)

I'll make a confession here: Negan (Jefferey Dean Morgan) was too much for me. I started to tune out of The Walking Dead right about the time he entered. He was just too violent and too mean for me to keep going. The Walking Dead had a number of great villains, but for me, he's the king of the worst.

The Trinity Killer (Dexter)

The only person to actually match wits with Dexter on the show of the same name was, of course, Arthur Mitchell, aka The Trinity Killer, played by the brilliant John Lithgow. He was an unbelievable foe for everyone's favorite anti-hero/serial killer and a big reason the show was as successful as it was over the years.

Aunt Lydia (The Handmaid's Tale)

The Handmaid's Tale is one of the hardest shows to watch, ever. There is just so much evil throughout virtually every moment of the show. That evil is personified by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), the "aunt" who is "caring" for June Osborne/Offred and her fellow handmaids. It's impossible to sum up just how evil she is.

Moriarty (Sherlock)

One of the greatest villains in Western literature is Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes books. On the show Sherlock, Moriarty is portrayed perfectly in a modernized way by Andrew Scott. He is a master criminal, sure, but really, he just wants to torment our hero, Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch)

Mr. Burns (The Simpsons)

Any villain who once tried to block out the sun to drive up profits for his company belongs on this list. Mr. Burns' attempt to shroud Springfield in darkness on The Simpsons led to dozens of suspects after he was shot. Of course, it was actually CM Burms' attempt to steal candy from a baby that actually got him shot. It's a toss-up as to which is worse.

Homelander (The Boys)

One of the most disturbing villains you can watch with a Prime subscription has to be Homelander from The Boys. He finally answers the question: "What if Superman were evil?" Luckily, he's as funny as he is scary, which makes him as watchable as any other baddie on this list.

Cersei Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

One show that gave us all multiple villains that could be on this is Game of Thrones. Perhaps the most coniving, most ruthless, and most disturbing of them all was Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). She made it (almost) to the bitter end of the show after setting herself up as the villain very early on. She wasn't alone, but she was the most dangerous in the game.

Vern Schillinger (Oz)

Vern Schillinger (J.K. Simmons) is the personification of evil on Oz. The racist prisoner was ruthless, but he was also weak in a lot of ways, making him even more dangerous.

Al Swearengen (Deadwood)

There are no villains on this list with the verbal panache of Al Swearengen on Deadwood. Ian McShane's performance, delivering those amazing lines like only he could, made Swearengen a fan favorite, despite just how awful he could be. Just hope he doesn't turn that silver tongue on you, or you might get fed to the pigs next.

Ben Linus (Lost)

This first season on Lost saw the castaways mostly fighting among themselves. There was no real "villain" until the 14th episode of the show's second season. That is when Henry Gale is captured by Rousseau. Soon, we would all learn his real name, Ben Linus, and his real motive, and they weren't benevolent. Actor Michael Emerson played the role perfectly.

Wilson Fisk (Daredevil)

Matching his brains with tremendous brawn, Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) has everything he needs to be one of the most powerful baddies on this list. In both the original Daredevil, which streamed on Netflix before moving to Disney+, and Daredevil: Reborn, Kingpin is as formidable as any villain ever. It doesn't hurt to have the talented D'Onofrio playing the supervillain, one of Marvel's best.

Alexis Carrington (Dynasty)

What J.R. Ewing did for Dallas, Alexis Carrington (Joan Collins) did for Dynasty. The show was a direct response to Dallas, and it had the same vibe, and Alexis was just as conniving and ruthless as J.R.

Skeletor (He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe)

This one is personal. When I was a kid, I was actually a little scared of Skeletor in the original He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe cartoon. He's been the central villain throughout all of the various versions of the franchise. He was thwarted most of the time, but he never stopped coming at He-Man and his cohorts.

Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)

One of the most ruthless and terrifying villains on TV and on the silver screen has to be Hannibal Lecter. The cannibal psychiatrist was played by Mads Mikkelsen on the show Hannibal, after Sir Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar playing the role in The Silence Of The Lambs. Whomever plays him, he's pure evil.

Marlo Stanfield (The Wire)

One of the things that makes The Wire such an amazing show, one of the best shows ever in the peak era of television, was that there were very few pure villains. Every character, cop or criminal, was presented in shades of gray. Some good, some bad. One character that was pretty much all bad, however, was Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector). His takeover of the drug trade in Baltimore was as ruthless a takeover as you could imagine. He was cold and calculating, but he wasn't afraid to be as violent as he could.

Sue Sylvester (Glee)

Sue Sylvester might not be the most violent or the most criminal villain on this list, but that doesn't mean that she is any less ruthless in the pursuit of her goals than anyone else on this list. The great Jane Lynch was born to play the role, too. She was not only ruthless, she was hilarious. The perfect example of a character we all love to hate, and that's a complete compliment to the great Ms. Lynch.

Damon Pope (Sons Of Anarchy)

It wasn't often that SAMCRO ran up against a foe that they couldn't take out pretty easily in Sons of Anarchy. Damon Pope, played by Harold Perrineau, was one exception to that rule. Pope was the main antagonist in Season 5 of the show, and he was responsible for one of the most brutal deaths in SOA history when he arranged Opie's death in front of his brothers. I still get sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

Joffery Baratheon (Game Of Thrones)

In a show full of villains, Joffrey Baratheon was the most unpredictable and the most ruthlessly violent. He was a terrible sadist, as shown over and over, and he had absolutely no morals. He is among the most hated TV villains of all time.

Thomas Barrow (Downton Abbey)

Downton Abbey isn't a show that jumps out as having any ruthless villains, but Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) definitely fits the bill here. He's conniving, sniveling, and awful. Sometimes his motives don't even seem reasonable, but that doesn't stop him from trying to undermine his perceived enemies.

Ralph Cifaretto (The Sopranos)

The Sopranos never really found a villain quite as evil as Livia Soprano, but when Ralph Cifaretto (Joe Pantoliano) returns from Miami in Season 3, we did get a formidable foe to Tony. He was rash and violent, but he also always found a way to justify his questionable decisions, even when they went against Tony's orders.

Amanda Woodward (Melrose Place)

As a spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place was decidedly more "adult," not just in the age of the characters, but in the way those characters acted and were treated. 90210 didn't really have villains, but Melrose had Amanda Woodward, played by the wonderful Heather Locklear. While she did garner some sympathy as the seasons rolled on, in the beginning, she was 100% villain.

Newman (Seinfeld)

There aren't a whole lot of villains in sitcoms, at least, not any as devious as Jerry's neighbor Newman (Wayne Knight). He was buddies with Kramer, but a sworn enemy of Jerry's, and it made every single interaction between the two characters hilarious. The disdain they had for each other was palpable every time they met. Newman and Jerry got along.

Sideshow Bob (The Simpsons)

While Mr. Burns is a villain to everyone in Springfield (even Smithers most of the time), Sideshow Bob (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) is a villain to just one poor kid in town, Bart Simpson. Over the years, the Bond Villain-like Bob has come up with all kinds of schemes to take out who he thinks is his nemesis, but he is thwarted each time. It's made for some of the best episodes of The Simpsons.

Sylar (Heroes)

Sylar (Zachary Quinto) was not only ruthless on Heroes, but he was insanely powerful, and that made him one of the scariest villains on this whole list. Zachary Quinto played the role masterfully,

The Governor (The Walking Dead)

Of all the villains in The Walking Dead, The Governor, played by David Morrissey in Seasons 3 and 4, is one of the most menacing. Maybe it's the eye patch, but there was always something very unsettling about him, even when he wasn't being totally awful (which was rare). The villains got more violent as the show went on, but they didn't get any scarier than The Governor.

Villanelle (Killing Eve)

Villanelle's cat-and-mouse game with Eve (Sandra Oh) is what makes the show so great. Jodie Comer, who plays Villanelle, and Sandra Oh have great on-screen chemistry, which is often underrated when it comes to great villains on TV. Sometimes, the back-and-forth is what makes the adversaries great.

Rowan Pope (Scandal)

It's always bad when your most ruthless enemy is part of your family. For Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), her father, Rowan Pope (Joe Morton), was the one enemy who knew how to really twist the knife in the normally unflappable Olivia.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced an entire generation of superhero movie fans to some of the comic book publishing giant’s most iconic characters, such as Iron Man and Thor. However, many of the heroes and villains we know from those Marvel movies in order have found their way to the big or small screen. Let’s honor some of the actors who brought them to life before they were inducted into the MCU.

Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man)

Some Marvel Comics fans have criticized the casting of Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, considering he was far older than when Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive arachnid at the time. While Tom Holland certainly fit the bill of a teenage vigilante better years later, Maguire is still remembered today as one of the best to play the role. Not to mention, he wore, arguably, the best cinematic Spidey outfit of all time.

Jessica Alba (Invisible Woman)

Following her Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough role on Dark Angel, Jessica Alba could be seen just about everywhere in the early 2000s. Ironically, she made her comic book movie debut in Tim Story's Fantastic Four as a superhero known for being unseen: Sue "Invisible Woman" Storm, who would be inducted into the MCU with Vanessa Kirby's portrayal.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Ben Affleck would make an amusing, if not polarizing, impression when he joined a long line of live-action Batman actors for Zack Snyder's short-lived DC Extended Universe. More than a decade earlier, the Oscar winner cut his teeth in the world of superhero acting by playing the title role of 2003's Daredevil before Charlie Cox took over the role for the MCU in his own hit series.

Djimon Hounsou (Black Panther)

Djimon Hounsou has a small role in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy as Korath the Pursuer, but had voiced the Black Panther in a BET original animated series four years earlier. The Academy Award nominee would later share the screen as Korath with the MCU's T'Challa, Chadwick Boseman, for an episode of the animated anthology series, What If...?

Wesley Snipes (Blade)

Marvel's popular vampire hunter character would, technically, make his MCU debut when Mahershala Ali made a vocal cameo as Blade in the post-credit sequence of 2021's Eternals. However, the first actor to play the Daywalker in his own trilogy of Blade movies, Wesley Snipes, beat him to the punch by making a full, live MCU appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Dolph Lundgren (The Punisher)

It is hard to imagine Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren with jet black hair, but he donned it to play Frank Castle in a straight-to-video feature adaptation of The Punisher in 1989. The role of the vengeful vigilante would be passed down a couple more times before Jon Bernthal took over as the MCU's official iteration, but the Swedish actor would later return to comic book movie acting as King Nereus in the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman movies.

David Hasselhoff (Nick Fury)

Samuel L. Jackson's performance as Nick Fury has become so definitive that Marvel would use his likeness in the Ultimate universe comics. However, the eye-patched secret agent's main iteration better resembles David Hasselhoff, who would, indeed, play him in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., a made-for-TV movie that was intended to be a pilot for an original series on Fox.

Jennifer Garner (Elektra Natchios)

Jennifer Garner played a lighter interpretation of Matt Murdock's assassin lover, Elektra Natchios, in 2003's Daredevil and in her own spin-off film from two years later. While the Alias star would also reprise the role in Deadpool & Wolverine, the official MCU iteration, introduced in Season 2 of the Daredevil series, is played by Élodie Yung.

Chris Evans (Human Torch)

Chris Evans is one of the few MCU actors who can say he previously played a superhero from a different corner of the Marvel Multiverse. Years before he was cast as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, he starred in the 2000s Fantastic Four movies as the Human Torch, which he referenced to hilarious effect in Deadpool & Wolverine. The MCU later introduced its own official iteration of Johnny Storm, played by Joseph Quinn.

Lou Ferrigno (Hulk)

Before Bruce Banner's mean, green alter ego became the product of putting Mark Ruffalo in a performance capture suit, he was brought to life in live-action on the hit TV show, The Incredible Hulk, by Lou Ferrigno, standing in for David Banner actor Bill Bixby whenever he would get angry. The legendary bodybuilder also lent his voice to the role in the Incredible Hulk animated series and made a cameo as a security guard in both 2003's Hulk and the Edward Norton-led MCU debut.

J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)

One of the few actors known for playing the same Marvel character both in and outside of the MCU is J.K. Simmons. The Academy Award winner stole the show as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies before reimagining the role as a conspiracy theorist and podcast host in the Tom Holland-led films.

Doug Jones (Silver Surfer)

The MCU would introduce a unique version of the Silver Surfer played by Emmy winner Julia Garner in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Doug Jones, a master of roles requiring performance capture and heavy makeup transformations, shares credit for portraying the first "live-action" iteration of the metallic-skinned alien from 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with Laurence Fishburne, who provided the voice.

Robert Hays (Iron Man)

It is hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Tony Stark other than Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr., but Iron Man was the star of his own animated series years earlier in the mid-1990s. Voicing the wealthy vigilante was Robert Hays, who is best known for starring in the classic spoof movie, Airplane!, as Ted Striker.

Neil Patrick Harris (Spider-Man)

In 2003, MTV aired a TV show very loosely connected to Sam Raimi's Marvel movies called Spider-Man: The New Animated Series. Instead of Tobey Maguire, the actor providing the voice of Peter Parker was none other than future How I Met Your Mother cast member Neil Patrick Harris, who later contributed to the 2010 video game, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

Eric Allan Kramer (Thor)

Years before Chris Hemsworth's definitive performance as Thor in the MCU made him a household name, Eric Allan Kramer of Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Good Luck Charlie fame became the first actor the play the role in live-action in the 1988 TV movie, The Incredible Hulk Returns. However, I feel obligated to mention that Vincent D'Onofrio's role in Adventures in Babysitting as Dawson, who bears a striking resemblance to the God of Thunder, predates Kramer's portrayal by a year.

Rosemary Harris (Aunt May)

With all due respect and admiration for Marisa Tomei, the Oscar winner is certainly not the first person you would picture to play Peter Parker's Aunt May, as she does in the MCU. However, Rosemary Harris is not only the spitting image of the comic book character, but also gives a moving, iconic performance as May opposite Tobey Maguire's Peter in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

Matt Salinger (Captain America)

One of the most notable screen iterations of Steve Rogers that pre-dates Chris Evans' portrayal comes from 1990's infamous straight-to-video feature, Captain America. Playing the title role is Matt Salinger, who, believe it or not, is the son of The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger, as the actor discussed with The Guardian.

James Avery (War Machine)

Most people know actor James Avery best from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Philip Banks. Around that same time, however, the actor lent his voice to the animated Iron Man series as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, years before Tony Stark's buddy was portrayed in the MCU by Don Cheadle... and Terrence Howard, of course.

Nicholas Hammond (Spider-Man)

Before the role was brought to life by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, the first actor to play Peter Parker in live-action was Nicholas Hammond. The Sound of Music star led CBS' Spider-Man series and its two made-for-TV companion films in the late 1970s.

Jennifer Connelly (Betty Ross)

Liv Tyler appeared in 2008's The Incredible Hulk as Betty Ross, the colleague and love interest of Edward Norton's Bruce Banner. Years earlier, in 2003's Hulk, she was played by Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, who was also subtly inducted into the MCU as the voice of Karen, the AI built into Peter Parker's high-tech suit in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Thomas Jane (The Punisher)

Three actors were brought in to play Frank Castle before Jon Bernthal was cast in the role for the MCU. The second, after Dolph Lundgren and before Ray Stevenson, and first to bring the vigilante into the 21st Century, was Thomas Jane in 2004's The Punisher, which sees the anti-hero take on a corrupt businessman responsible for his family's tragic deaths.

Cree Summer (She-Hulk)

Cree Summer is the prolific voice actor behind many well-known animated roles, such as Susie Carmichael from Nickelodeon's Rugrats. She was also the second person to voice Bruce Banner's cousin, Jennifer Walters, on the animated Incredible Hulk TV show almost a couple of decades before Tatiana Maslany was cast in the lead role of Disney+'s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Michael Chiklis (The Thing)

Jamie Bell and Emmy winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach (who also appeared on Jon Bernthal's The Punisher series) both played CGI versions of Ben "The Thing" Grimm in their respective cinematic adaptations of the Fantastic Four comics. However, Michael Chiklis admirably went the old-fashioned route and donned a heavy amount of prosthetics to play the orange, rock-skinned superhero in Tim Story's movies from 2004 and 2007.

Sam Elliott (Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross)

Following William Hurt's passing, Harrison Ford stepped in to play Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross for the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World, in which the military general-turned-U.S. president becomes the Red Hulk. However, you could argue that the most intimidating portrayal of the character is still that of Sam Elliott in 2003's Hulk.

Peter Hooten (Dr. Strange)

With the title's otherworldly, psychedelic imagery, it is not very surprising to learn that Marvel's Doctor Strange comics were first adapted for live-action in the 1970s. CBS attempted to launch a series focused on the Sorcerer Supreme with a pilot led by actor Peter Hooten, who was, of course, succeeded decades later by Benedict Cumberbatch as the MCU's official iteration.

Lisa Rinna (Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine)

While better known today as a star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Rinna also has the honor of being the first actor to portray Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in live-action in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the MCU, the Italian-American noblewoman and CIA director is played by Seinfeld cast member Julia-Louis Dreyfus.

Conan Stevens (Man-Thing)

In 2005, SyFy aired a scary "movie of the week" inspired by the Marvel comic book character Man-Thing, played by Conan Stevens, who is essentially the publisher's equivalent to DC's Swamp Thing. The humanoid plant creature was painted in a far more sympathetic light in the Disney+ original Halloween special, Werewolf by Night, in which he was portrayed in motion capture by Carey Jones.

Ed Asner (J. Jonah Jameson)

Emmy winner Ed Asner's definitive TV role for years was cantankerous journalist Lou Grant on beloved TV sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the character's more earnest self-titled spin-off. In other words, he was a perfect choice to voice J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the 1990s.

Eric Bana (Bruce Banner)

The first live-action, theatrically released feature film adaptation of Marvel's The Incredible Hulk comics, director Ang Lee's Hulk, cast Australian actor Eric Bana as Bruce Banner. The brilliant physicist would later return to the big screen as part of the MCU, first portrayed by Edward Norton in his 2008 solo flick before Mark Ruffalo took over the role in subsequent installments.

Ed Gale (Howard The Duck)

Howard the Duck, one of the most bizarre characters in Marvel Comics' history, exists in the MCU, having first appeared in the post-credit sequence for Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Seth Green. The fowl extraterrestrial crimefighter made his feature debut, however, in a self-titled film from producer George Lucas, in which Ed Gale, a little person also known for playing Chucky in Child's Play, wore a duck costume on set while Chip Zien provided the voice.

Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic)

Before Pedro Pascal added the MCU to his ongoing list of franchises by playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, English actor Ioan Gruffudd played the stretchy superhero otherwise known as Mr. Fantastic in Tim Story's Fantastic Four movies.

Sticky Fingaz (Blade)

Mahershala Ali is actually not Wesley Snipes' direct successor to the role of Blade. Rap artist Sticky Fingaz played the vampire hunter in a short-lived TV series from 2006.

In the grand scheme of 2025 movies, The Accountant 2 has to be one of the most long-awaited gems. Sure, nine years between sequels isn’t that much of a stretch when compared to other franchises, but I’m pumped nonetheless that Ben Affleck’s action/thriller sequel is actually happening. That much has been proven to be true at this moment, as the first trailer is now up, and there's a lot to discuss.

Don't Expect Much. J.K. Simmons In The Accountant 2

Things are looking quite dangerous in this sequel to 2016’s Gavin O’Connor-directed hit, as Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) and his brother Brax (Jon Bernthal) are embroiled in a pretty personal conflict. And just as I’d suspected from the moment the synopsis mentioned the murder of an “old acquaintance” as the catalyst for this adventure, J.K . Simmons’ Ray King has turned in his Treasury badge for the great beyond.

While it’s expected, I’m still kind of bummed that the Academy Award winner has checked his last counterfeit bill. At the same time, that lends The Accountant 2 a set of stakes that weren’t present in the first picture, as we mostly saw Christian Wolff deal with the job and not his emotions.

Part of that journey is going to come from re-teaming with The Rings of Power cast member Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who played Treasury agent Marybeth Medina from the previous picture. I can definitely see where Addai-Robinson's excitement over The Accountant 2 comes from, as she now gets to work on the frontlines with Mr. Affleck at this time of crisis. And that doesn’t look like the only emotional paydirt on the menu either!

The Accountant 2 Promises Some Brotherly Ben Affleck/Jon Bernthal Drama

Beyond all of the combat that lies ahead in The Accountant 2, there’s an unexpectedly touching angle that looks to be present. Amidst the dry humor between this “good killer, bad killer” pair of siblings, and the threat of the various parties who took out J.K. Simmons’ character, we see the signs of two men trying to reconnect as family.

What I’m about to say is no insult to Jon Bernthal, but out of the two actors, I’m more used to Ben Affleck plumbing those depths in his career. So to see Bernthal’s Brax asking his brother if he even missed him pulls at my heartstrings. And yes, I know The Punisher afforded him the opportunity to dip into some tragic drama in Frank Castle's backstory, but that's a whole other animal from trying to reconnect with your brother.

Though in the opposite direction, it still blows me away to see Affleck doing the sort of ass-kicking I’d expect from the once-and-future Punisher.

I still can’t believe that this movie even happened, as when I spoke to The Way Back director back in 2020, The Accountant 2 seemed like a dead end. But then in 2021, during O’Connor’s ReelBlend appearance, the man walked back that statement with an announcement that Christian Wolff would live to crunch numbers, and necks, once more.

Part of what made this all possible may have been Affleck's co-creation of Artists Equity, a production company founded by himself and his dear friend/collaborator Matt Damon. That'd totally explain the almost decade-long wait for this next chapter. While it may be too early to tell, as The Accountant 2 doesn’t head to theaters until April 25th, but so far the wait looks to have been worth it.

And if you need me to show my receipts for that claim, just zip back to the end of the trailer. I don't know about you, but watching Ben Affleck wrecking shop with an automatic rifle, while Jon Bernthal hot swaps to his pistol, feels like a thing of beauty.

With that in mind, please be aware that this movie is being released 10 days after Tax Day in the US. So be sure to have your returns in order ahead of time, as I’m sure none of us would want to learn how cross Christian Wolff must look when someone tries to file without a proper extension.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, with new projects arriving on both the small and silver screens. Outside of the main cinematic universe, the Invincible show is airing for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. I've been really enjoying Season 3, but one complaint I had about the second season still hasn't been fixed just yet. Hear me out.

Invincible Season 3 started off with a bang, with Steven Yeun's title character become far more powerful and having a serious conflict with Cecil. While J.K. Simmons returned as Omni-Man, he's still only appearing briefly during the first few episodes. And given how much I missed him in Season 2 and how stunning Simmons' performance is in the role, I need more of the series' main antagonist/antihero.

Obviously we're only a few episodes into Season 3, so it's possible that Omni-Man will become a more consistent presence later in the season. In fact I hope I'm wrong, and we get to see him have some much-needed conflicts with Mark, Debbie, and Oliver. He's such a fascinating character, and I need to hear more of Simmons' dulcet tones.

Season 3 has already given us some major payoffs, such as Mark and Eve finally getting together after all this time. And with Omni-Man admitted he missed his wife, I have a feeling the family drama is going to take center stage. I just hope that it ends up resulting episodes-long appearances with Simmons' powerful character. Because while Season 2's episode on Thraxa was great, it was really the only one that put Nolan back at the front of the narrative.

Omni-Man instantly captured the attention of folks watching Invincible, especially after Episode 1's brutal murder of the Guardians of the Globe. Throughout all of Season 1 we wondered about his motives, before he eventually revealed the true mission of the Viltrumites, and brutally beat up his own son in a world-spanning battle. He departed Earth afterward, and has largely only appeared in brief scenes in the season and a half that followed.

All that being said, I'm thrilled the show is already back for a third season. Season 2 of Invincible was split into two parts, which made the pacing really come to a halt... especially for the gap between seasons. And as previously mentioned, I am really liking the direction of Season 3. I simply want more of a fan favorite character, and the outstanding voice actor that goes along with it. The Invincible voice cast is absolutely stacked, including Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, Gillian Jacobs, Walter Goggins and more. New episodes air Thursdays on Amazon Prime as part of the 2025 TV premiere list. Hopefully we get more of Omni-Man soon.

Spoilers for Invincible Seasons 1 and 2 below! If you're not caught up, you can check out both seasons with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Invincible Season 3 has flown in on the 2025 TV schedule, and you know what that means – the return of everyone's favorite dad superhero-turned-supervillain-turned…good guy? Yeah, this about sums up the complexities of J.K. Simmons' Omni-Man, and the Oscar winner is here for it.

The Amazon Prime original series from comic book icon Robert Kirkman has always toed the line between action-adventure and dark family drama, and one of the biggest components from both elements is Omni-Man, who took a bit of a backseat in Season 2. When CinemaBlend spoke to Simmons ahead of Season 3's premiere, the actor admitted he was fine being in the background for a bit – the series is titled Invincible and not Omni-Man – but he was eager to show off and voice this "different aspect" to Omni-Man that we haven't seen yet. In his words:

What makes Invincible the perfect superhero show – and really one of the best non-Marvel / DC superhero shows ever – is the exploration of the intricate natures of these characters and the twists that come with each episode – which, in turn, is what makes Omni-Man so great. Simmons himself addressed how the changes in the characters' evolutions is what he loves about any "long-form storytelling," saying:

Omni-Man, in general, has been one of the highlights of the franchise as a whole. Obviously, we all love Mark as a hero, and watching him become incredibly strong is always fulfilling, especially after the brutal death of Angstrom Levy in the Season 2 finale. But a big part of that is also watching him grow fiercer in order to face his father – and the Viltrumite race as a whole.

For a time, we didn't really know what was going to happen to Omni-Man. When he was captured by the Viltrumites in Season 2 from Thraxa, it felt like his story was slowly coming to an end. But now, in that space prison, we've already heard him admit that he missed his wife last season, and in Season 3, he's shown to be developing worry for Alvin the Alien, his cellmate.

This is not the same Omni-Man that we met in Season 1, and while I haven't read the comics yet (because I don't want to be spoiled), it makes me excited for what's to come as Season 3 progresses and beyond. Will we finally see Omni-Man battle against his people once Alvin gets through to him? I'm champing at the bit to know.

Invincible continues to be one of the best shows on Amazon Prime, and it's only going to get better. Be sure to check out the first three episodes now and log back on every week at Amazon Prime to watch the rest of this super-action-packed story.

Even though Spider-Man has seen a lot of big-screen iterations across the past two decades, Tobey Maguire's version of the character is most definitely counted among the best Spider-Man movies we've ever seen. To pay tribute to the first trilogy of movies starring the beloved Marvel Comics character, here are the best quotes from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies from the '00s.

“Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.” - Uncle Ben, Spider-Man

There's of course no quote more iconic for the Spider-Man character than this one. The phrase was first used in the Spider-Man comics in a 1962 issue written by Stan Lee as part of the last panel of the comic, initially without ties to Uncle Ben. The connection of the quote with Peter and his uncle came later. And, Michael Sheen made the quote especially unforgettable in the first 2002 movie when he imparts some wisdom about growing up to Peter just hours before his untimely death. The quote ultimately helps create Spider-Man.

"I believe there’s a hero in all of us. That keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally, allows us to die with pride. Even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most – even our dreams." - Aunt May, Spider-Man 2

Rosemary Harris' Aunt May established herself as a particularly perspective figure in the first movie, but her best quote comes in the middle of Spider-Man 2. In the plot line that has Peter Parker giving up his role as Spidey, May gives the hero a pep talk, without even knowing it. The powerful moment happens when Peter's young neighbor asks Peter where Spider-Man is and if he'll come back while helping Aunt May move.

"You know, I guess one person can make a difference." - Stan Lee, Spider-Man 3

There were a lot of great Stan Lee cameos during his lifetime, but one of the most special has to be when he crosses paths with Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker during Spider-Man 3. The creator of the comic book character has had a lot of funny appearances in Marvel movies over the years, but this is one of the most earnest of them as he says, "One person can make a difference."

“You know who I am. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!” - Spider-Man, Spider-Man

"Your friendly neighborhood Spider-man" is a famous phrase the hero says in the comic books, and in 2002's Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire's version gets to say it himself. In a scene where he saves Mary Jane Watson for the first time at the Thanksgiving Parade, she asks him who she is and this is how he responds.

“Being brilliant is not enough, young man. You have to work hard. Intelligence is not a privilege, it’s a gift. And, you use it for the good of mankind.” - Otto Octavius, Spider-Man 2

Early in Spider-Man 2, the movie establishes Alfred Molina's Otto Octavius as a brilliant mind who Peter Parker looks up to. Prior to the nuclear physicist becoming the movie's villain, he meets with Parker for a college paper he is writing. During their first conversation, he imparts wisdom about how it's not enough to be a smart person, one has to use their gifts for good things.

“If he doesn’t want to be famous, I’ll make him infamous!” - J. Jonah Jameson, Spider-Man

In the Spider-Man universe, J. Jonah Jameson is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, who is content with painting Spider-Man as a villain, likely to sell more papers. In one particularly memorable quote from the first 2002 appearance of the comic book character played by J.K. Simmons, he declares he wants to make Spider-Man "infamous." The character is so beloved he returned for Tom Holland's version.

“The cunning warrior attacks neither body nor mind. The heart, Osborn! First we attack his heart.” - Green Goblin, Spider-Man

In the first Spider-Man movie, the hero faces a formidable foe in Norman Osborn's Green Goblin. The fantastic Willem Dafoe plays the character almost like a rendition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In one scene, as Norman realizes Peter Parker is Spider-Man, the Green Goblin instructs that he defeats the hero by going after his "heart" which includes terrorizing both Aunt May and Mary Jane in the third act of the movie.

“You have a knack for saving my life." - Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man

The most famous scene in the first Spider-Man trilogy is when Mary Jane Watson shares a kiss with Spidey while he's hanging upside down. It happens right after the hero says she has a "knack for getting into trouble" and she responds to the above quote. She asks if she can thank him for saving her the second time and they have a romantic moment in the rain. However, Kirsten Dunst's own experience with the scene was "kind of miserable" considering the pouring rain of it all.

“No matter what I do. No matter how hard I try. The ones I love will always be the ones who pay.” - Peter Parker, Spider-Man

At the end of the first Spider-Man movie, Peter Parker wins the heart of Mary Jane Watson after she was previously with Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn in the transition between high school and college. Despite Peter's longing for Mary Jane and her confession of love, the first movie ends with Peter saying he can only be friends with her before a narration has the character sharing his fears as a hero.

“Love should never be a secret. If you keep something as complicated as love stored up inside, it can make you sick.” - Otto Octavius, Spider-Man 2

In the Spider-Man trilogy, Peter Parker has been in love with Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane Watson since they became neighbors as kids. However, when he becomes Spider-Man he makes a decision that he cannot pursue her romantically because it would put her in danger. When Peter meets Otto early in the movie, he insinuates there's a girl he likes (MJ of course) but hasn't made it known. Otto suggests he should let her know with poetry.

“Hey kiddo, let mom and dad talk for a minute, will ya?” - Spider-Man, Spider-Man

In Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson's sharp tongue gets in the way of a squabble Spider-Man and Green Goblin are having at the Daily Bugle. It leads Spider-Man to hilariously use his webbing to trap Jameson's mouth shut and continue forth fighting his foe.

“I’m Spider-Man no more. No more.” - Peter Parker, Spider-Man 2

In a 1967 issue of The Amazing Spiderman. the Marvel hero decides to be "Spider-Man No More!" in an iconic comic book cover. And in Sam Raimi's 2004 movie, Peter Parker emulates the issue by deciding to hang up his heroics and be a regular guy again. When Peter Parker says this in the movie, it's an awesome tribute to the comic books. The themes of the movie particularly continue to resonate because of how relatable it is to see Spidey struggle with all the responsibilities of life.

"Uncle Ben meant the world to us, but he wouldn’t want us living one second with revenge in our hearts. It’s like a poison, it can take you over. Before you know it, turn us into something ugly." - Aunt May, Spider-Man 3

In Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker's personality takes a turn when an alien symbiote attaches to him. This happens as he learns the true killer behind Uncle Ben's death is alive and on the loose in New York City. After Peter thinks he has killed Flint Marko / Sandman, he tells Aunt May proudly that Spider-Man has done so. However, Aunt May preaches how she would never want revenge on her late husband, much to Peter's initial dismay.

“So here I am standing in your doorway. I’ve always been standing in your doorway. Isn’t it about time somebody saved your life?” - Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man 2

The end of Spider-Man 2 almost acts as our favorite romantic comedy. During the finale, Mary Jane, who has recently learned that Peter Parker is Spider-Man decides to walk out on her own wedding and show up at his door in her wedding dress to tell him that she doesn't care about the risk of being Spider-Man's girlfriend, because she wants to be there for him. It's the sweetest moment.

“But the one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall. Die trying. In spite of everything you’ve done for them, eventually they will hate you. Why bother?” - Green Goblin, Spider-Man

While the Sam Raimi movies have some powerful superhero quotes, there's also a good amount of great ones from villains that describe their side of things. Such as when Green Goblin tries to convince Spider-Man to join him in his evil plots by sharing how the people he fights for will turn against him. This is certainly true for Goblin's alter ego Norman Osborn, who was recently ousted from his company amidst his villainous turn. As the trilogy shows time and time again, Spider-Man always has kind strangers who stand up for him.

"The truth is, you don’t know what you feel, except you know what kind of man you want to be. It’s as if you’ve reached the unreachable, and you weren’t ready for it.” - Peter Parker, Spider-Man

When Aunt May gets hospitalized by the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, Mary Jane visits her and Peter Parker. During a memorable scene for the pair, Peter Parker shares his feelings for his longtime next-door neighbor by sharing how looking in her eyes makes him feel. It feels like the moment MJ really sees and falls for Peter.

“Did Edison sleep before he turned on the light? Did Marconi sleep before he turned on the radio? Did Beethoven sleep before he wrote the Fifth?" - Otto Octavius, Spider-Man 2

Prior to Otto Octavius becoming Doc Ock, the nuclear physicist shows his excitement for his fusion reactor experiment by comparing his presentation of his turning on his invention to Thomas Edison turning on the lightbulb and so forth. Little does he know it will fail and turn him into Spider-Man's latest adversary.

“I have a father. His name was Ben Parker.” - Peter Parker, Spider-Man

At the end of Spider-Man, Peter Parker / Spider-Man learns that Green Goblin has been Norman Osborn the whole time. in a last-ditch effort to exterminate Spidey, Norman acts like he needs help from him because he's like a father to him. However, it becomes a sweet moment instead when Peter declares the late Uncle Ben was his father. It's a great callback moment because right before he died, Peter suggested he shouldn't act like his father when he is not.

"You start by doing the hardest thing. You forgive yourself." - Aunt May, Spider-Man 3

Peter Parker goes in a dark place over the course of Spider-Man 3 that leads him to really treat Mary Jane in particular poorly. In one scene he even tries to make her jealous by taking Gwen Stacy to the jazz club she is working at and showing off in front of her. The scene leads to Peter accidentally slapping his ex-girlfriend. When he opens up to Aunt May about feeling bad about his actions, she suggests he must forgive himself before he can do anything else. Aunt May always knows what to say!

“Planning is not a major at this university.” - Dr. Connor, Spider-Man 2

Early in Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker is having a hard time juggling being a superhero and a regular guy. His professor, Dr. Connor, gives him a reality check when he throws back his words of "planning" to do something as something that will not help him succeed. The words hit deep for Peter, and ultimately he tries to not be Spider-Man in order to get back on track.

“He's just a kid.” - Random New Yorker, Spider-Man 2

In one of the best scenes in the Spider-Man trilogy, Spider-Man saves a train full of citizens from Doc Ock, but in the meantime exposes his identity to them. As they all gaze on his face, one New Yorker comments about how the hero is "just a kid." It's an emotional quote because it shows that the city probably doesn't imagine that Spider-Man is basically a teenager.

“There’s only one man who’s always been there for me, who makes me feel like I’m more than I ever thought I could be. That I’m just me… and that’s OK. The truth is I love you. Oh, I love you so much Peter.” - Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man

At the end of Spider-Man, while Peter and friends are attending the funeral of Norman Osborn, Mary Jane confesses her love for him with these romantic words. However, she's met with deep disappointment and rejection when Peter suggests he can only be her friend.

“Follow the cold shiver running down your spine.” - Green Goblin, Spider-Man

During Spider-Man, Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn does an incredible job of going between playing Osborn and the Goblin. One great quote from the character is when his bad side tells Norman to follow the "cold shiver" running down his spine to find him.

“Listen to me now.” - Otto Octavius, Spider-Man 2

At the end of Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man / Peter Parker successfully gets Otto to snap out of his villainous tendencies by knocking some sense into him. It leads to a powerful sequence where Otto asks his robotic tentacle arms to listen to him instead, and therein Otto stops his own plot from likely destroying the city, declaring he will not become a "monster".

"You don’t understand, I’m not an empty seat anymore. I’m different. Punch me, I bleed." - Peter Parker, Spider-Man 2

In the middle of Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker hangs up being Spider-Man and tries to be there for MJ by going to her play and making time for her. While the mutual feelings are certainly there, one can't blame MJ for feeling burned after he rejected her love. However, Peter makes a case that he's "different" and wants to try with her now.

“Do you love me or not?” - Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man 2

The Spider-Man trilogy takes great pleasure in the frustrating push and pull of Peter Parker and MJ, mostly at the cost of MJ due to her being in the dark about why he keeps shutting her out of her life. In one famous scene in the movie when they get coffee, MJ boils it down by blunting asking if he loves her or not. She was tired of the mixed signals, and rightfully so.

"Call Deborah. Tell her not to open the caviar." - J. Jonah Jameson, Spider-Man 2

J. Jonah Jameson almost becomes Mary Jane's father-in-law in Spider-Man 2 until she runs out on her own wedding to be with Peter Parker. In a funny moment, Jameson turns to her wife to make sure the caterer knows not to open the expensive caviar he shelled out for the reception. The editor-in-chief is known to be a penny pincher, so it's so on-brand.

Where do all these guys come from?” - Spider-Man, Spider-Man 3

In Spider-Man 3, Spidey comes head-to-head with Sandman for the first time early in the movie. When he finds himself emptying out his suit with sand, he questions where all the random villains he fights come from, and it's so hilarious! Spider-Man has defeated some wild villains in his heyday.

"There are bigger things happening here than me and you." - Peter Parker, Spider-Man 2

After the events of Spider-Man, the hero finds an enemy in Harry Osborn, who believes he killed his father and makes his mission to avenge him. He is almost successful with the help of Doc Ock until he finds out that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While Harry becomes caught up with the matters of his late father, the reveal comes as Otto has MJ and is about to set off his powerful and dangerous experiment, and stops Harry from saying these words.

“I’m gonna put some dirt in your eye.“ - Peter Parker, Spider-Man 3

In Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker starts acting nasty thanks to the Venom symbiote that attaches to him. This manifests itself through Peter's competition with another photographer, Eddie Brock. When Eddie publishes a fake photograph of Spider-Man in a black suit, he says this.

"It’s the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what’s right." - Peter Parker, Spider-Man 3

While the end of the Spider-Man movies didn't end in a way we like (though we still have hope for Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire/Sam Raimi), it did end with a solid quote about how we, no matter who we are, have the power to choose to do what's right rather than go the way of the villain. In the context of the movie, Peter Parker's journey ends with the funeral of his best friend, Harry, who worked alongside him as a fellow hero right before his death, after previously letting vengeance into his heart.

“No thanks, I had a bite.” - Peter Parker, Spider-Man

The Spider-Man script goes the punny route when Peter Parker is initially bitten by a radioactive spider, which turns him into a hero. After the field trip occurs that changes his life, he's not feeling so hot. When he returns home, his Aunt and Uncle ask if he wants some dinner, but under his breath, he says he's already "had a bite."

It’s a holly jolly time for the 2024 movie schedule to start delivering big time, and we’re starting to get some off-beat yet lovable movies in our stocking. This week in particular gives us the surprisingly naughty Netflix rom-com Hot Frosty, as well as the blockbuster thrills of Red One. And in reflecting on the incoming action-comedy that’s set to take flight this weekend, Chris Evans had a moment that kind of reminded us all of the true meaning of Christmas movies.

I personally observed this at the Red One virtual press conference earlier this month, as the cast and creatives were all on hand to promote Amazon MGM Studio’s wildly festive ride. I had serious fun with this movie, as I noted in my Red One review, but leave it to the former Captain America to put things into perspective in his own way. In particular, it’s what Chris Evans said below that really touched my heart:

Think back to some of the best Christmas movies you know and love, and chances are most of them are all about making amends just in time to make the Nice List. Be it a metaphorical nice list like in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, or a serious document that keeps track of everyone like in Violent Night, and turning it all around in the name of gratitude is something we see crop up quite a bit.

So of course if Red One is going to be a ho-ho-holiday beauty in its own right, it needs to uphold that end of the bargain. It does just that through the actions of Chris Evans’ own Jack “The Wolf” O’Malley; and to explain that I’m going to stay as spoiler free as possible. But if you’re still feeling sensitive to any potential Red One spoilers, skip the next two paragraphs.

Still with me? Fantastic, because there is a moment in director Jake Kasdan’s picture where you can literally feel the axis of The Grey Man star’s character literally shifting. A dangerous scenario presents itself, in which Chris Evans’ on-screen child is put into the line of fire - and it leads his character to take an obviously huge risk.

As he goes through with it Red One’s anti-hero looks over at holiday buddy Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), and basically explains his choice in a simple statement: “He’s my son.” It's not just the line itself, but also Chris Evans' delivery of it, that kind of hits harder now that I'm thinking about it again. Even J.K. Simmons' Santa would be smiling if he observed that gem of personal growth.

That’s not the only “second chance” that’s given in Red One, as even The Rock’s North Pole security expert has his own crisis of faith. As this formerly streaming original explores those personal struggles amidst the backdrop of learning what really happens around the holidays, the heart is still very firmly in place in this tale where Santa literally tells The Rock that he believes in us all. Because how often are we ever going to truly not want to see Chris Evans, and his magnificent beard, redeemed?

I didn’t think I could appreciate the fun that Red One delivered to me earlier this month any more. But just like my colleague Jessica Rawden highlighted in a defense against Red One’s critics, I personally think that some of the negative views on this project are a ticket to getting a lump of coal in one’s stocking. Or, at the very least, some interesting discussions with friends over holiday drinks.

Red One is currently in theaters, and it’s truly a fun ride that doesn’t overdo it on the holiday cheer. While we have no clue when it’ll hit streaming, it’ll more than likely arrive first on the digital doorstep of anyone with a Prime Video subscription.

Your favorite movie and TV star had to start somewhere and, sometimes, that somewhere is appearing in commercials. There have also been some cases in which an actor has already made it to the top but decided to lend their star power to a TV ad. You can find both kinds in the following collection of TV commercials featuring some huge celebrities.

Ben Affleck (Burger King)

An early blip in Ben Affleck's acting career was a commercial for the popular fast food chain, Burger King. The future live-action Batman actor and Academy Award-winning filmmaker plays a teen who accidentally invents Door Dash when his car phone intercepts a car from a girl who wants to order a whopper.

Cameron Diaz (Coca-Cola)

When Cameron Diaz was still a model primarily, one of her first experiences with acting – before making her feature debut in The Mask – was in a TV ad. The future Shrek movie star shines in an early '90s Coca-Cola commercial that feels a lot more like a perfume ad from the era in its alluring direction.

Paul Rudd (Super Nintendo)

All of Paul Rudd's versatile talents – from making us laugh in movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin to thrilling us as Ant-Man in the Marvel movies – can be traced back to a Super Nintendo commercial he did in the early '90s. He plays a very enthusiastic video gamer who attracts a crowd when he, somehow, hooks up his console to a drive-in theater projector for the ultimate experience of playing The Legend of Zelda and other favorites.

Jennifer Lawrence (My Super Sweet 16)

Jennifer Lawrence got to be the original My Super Sweet 16 girl without appearing on the actual reality TV series that documented wealthy young women's extravagant birthday celebrations. MTV ran dramatized promos for the then-new show starring the future Academy Award winner and Hunger Games movie star as the birthday girl who encounters a few mishaps during her festivities.

Brad Pitt (Pringles)

Years before he starred in Super Bowl Heineken ad helmed by his Fight Club director, David Fincher, the then-up-and-coming Brad Pitt got a taste of commercial acting by starring in a 1988 Pringles spot. He plays one of three surfer dudes who become stranded on the side of a California road when a trio of lovely women approach them for an impromptu Pringles party.

Amy Adams (Commercial Federal Bank)

Mainstream audiences first became aware of Amy Adams' impeccable singing talent in 2007's Enchanted but customers at Commercial Federal Bank were really the first to discover her. In 1997, the multi-Oscar nominee starred as an Olvia Newton-John lookalike in a parody of 1978's Grease for the bank.

Steve Carell (Brown's Chicken)

Steve Carell's channeled his inner Michael Scott long before leading NBC's The Office cast when he was just starting out acting in commercials. In the early 1990s, he played a Brown's Chicken employee whose clumsy mistake while setting up a marquee advertising "cholesterol-free cooking" accidentally convinces customers the food will cost them nothing.

Drew Barrymore (Pillsbury)

It must have been clear to anyone who spotted Drew Barrymore in her early Pillsbury commercial that she was destined to capture our hearts in E.T. the Extra-terrestrial just a few years later. The 1979 ad stars the then-four-year-old as a little girl whose mother cheers her up on a rainy day by making chocolate chip cookies.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Bubble Yum)

Before breaking out with his supporting role in Growing Pains and really hitting big leading the Titanic cast, the up-and-coming Leonardo DiCaprio did a few commercials. One sees the future Oscar winner demonstrate his natural charisma while demonstrating the powerful flavor of Bubble Yum bubble gum.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Alinamin V)

You may never be able to look at Arnold Schwarzenegger the same way again after witnessing the series of gobsmackingly bizarre ads the Terminator star filmed in Japan long after his big break. As the spokesperson for an energy drink called Alinamin V, the future California governor puts on a maniacally large smile and is sometimes seen riding the beverage's bottle into space or popping out of it like a genie.

Mila Kunis (Telephone Tammy)

Had Mila Kunis' Jackie Burkhart been a child of the '90s, Telephone Tammy – a doll who responds to your call with an included play phone – sounds like the kind of toy she would have grown up with. Not to mention the fact that the future That '70s Show cast member appeared in a commercial for Mattel when she was just starting out.

Morgan Freeman (Polaroid)

Future Academy Award winner and voice-over extraordinaire Morgan Freeman starred in a number of TV commercials early on in his career. One such ad was a 1970s spot for Polaroid, not as the man holding the camera that instantly prints out photos but the man telling the amateur photographer to cool it with the reshoots.

Britney Spears (Maull's)

Die-hard fans of pop superstar Britney Spears know that she started out as a child actor who worked with Ryan Gosling on The Mickey Mouse Club, among other rising stars. One of her earlier roles was a young girl who was apparently very excited to eat a home-cooked hamburger in a commercial for Maull's Barbecue Sauce, a local St. Louis brand.

Mark Hamill (Kodak)

Before playing Luke in the Star Wars movies made him familiar with technology from a galaxy far, far away, Mark Hamill represented what must have felt like a futuristic innovation at the time. He starred in a 1975 commercial for a Kodak camera that takes high-resolution photos from far away, allowing him to snap a shot of his girlfriend (and her mother) on a balcony while he stays on the ground.

Anne Hathaway (Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate)

Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway first showed her talent for performing in romantic dramas like One Day and The Idea of You in a 1996 commercial for Better Homes and Gardens. She plays a young woman who believes she and her boyfriend will still have time to spend before his family moves away until they learn the real estate agency has already sold the house.

J.K. Simmons (Farmers Insurance)

From his memorable roles in HBO's Oz and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies, J.K. Simmons was pretty well known by the time he was cast as Professor Nathaniel Burke of the University of Farmers for a long-running Farmers Insurance ad campaign. When he won his Oscar for Whiplash, host Neil Patrick Harris sang an impromptu parody of the company's commercial jingle.

Harrison Ford (Kirin)

Playing Han Solo in Star Wars and the title hero of the Indiana Jones movies made Harrison Ford an international star and one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He would also increase his notoriety in Japan by starring in a series of commercials for a regional brand of lager called Kirin.

Keanu Reeves (Corn Flakes)

Before playing a master of kung fu in The Matrix, a master of gun-fu in the John Wick movies, and a master of excellency in the Bill & Ted movies, Keanu Reeves played a master of sneaking a bowl of cereal for himself. The role of a waiter who enjoys some of the breakfast food he has been hired to serve comes from an '80s-era ad for Kellogg's Corn Flakes.

Betty White (Snickers)

Snickers had a funny ad campaign starring well-known actors as metaphorical representations of the out-of-character behavior of hungry people. One of the earliest, and funniest, stars the legendary Betty White as a dude who needs a bite of the protein-loaded candy bar when his performance in a casual football game is off.

Bruce Willis (Seagram's Coolers)

When he was best known for Moonlighting and before starring in one of the all-time greatest action movies, Die Hard, Bruce Willis had another claim to fame: Seagram's Golden. He served as the adult beverage's spokesperson in a series of ads, some of which utilized his musical talents.

Jeff Goldblum (Apartments.com)

It's a little strange how a performer as widely recognized and beloved as Academy Award nominee Jeff Goldblum would be hired to star in an ongoing ad campaign as an original character and not just as himself. Nevertheless, the star of Jurassic Park and The Fly is dazzling and dazzling in the Apartments.com commercials as Brad Bellflower.

Sharon Stone (Finesse)

In the 1990s, films like Basic Instinct and her Academy Award-nominated role in director Martin Scorsese's Casino made Sharon Stone one of the most esteemed, and desirable, actors of her time. In the 1980s, her looks helped sell Finesse shampoo as one of the most desirable brands in the hair care market.

Jack Black (Pitfall)

It appears that Jack Black's charismatic, high-energy sense of humor was something he possessed from a young age. Exhibit A: his appearance in a 1982 commercial for Atari's Pitfall, as a wide-eyed child in a safari hat enthusiastically recalling his experience in the jungle-set video game, years before he played a jungle-set video game character in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Burger King)

No one would have believed, in 1983, that an adorable six-year-old girl who became a recurring spokesperson for Burger King would grow up to become one of the fiercest horror Scream Queens in the genre's history. Yet, that would become Sarah Michelle Gellar's destiny after leading the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast as the titular defender against evil.

Tobey Maguire (Tropicana Twister)

In 1991, when he was still a teen, Tobey Maguire did an ad for a blended juice drink from Tropicana called Tropicana Twister. The future Spider-Man actor only briefly appears as a kid who breaks the fourth wall, suggesting that broccoli be added to the next unique flavor combination.

Courteney Cox (Tampax)

Before starring in the Friends cast as Monica Gellar, Courteney Cox was best known in the 1980s for dancing with Bruce Springsteen in the "Dancing in the Dark" video. However, did you catch the future Scream movies star's appearance in a Tampax ad as a gym patron?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pop-Tarts)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most acclaimed former child stars who still act, with film and TV credits that back to the late '80s and early '90s like Angels in the Outfield and, of course, 3rd Rock from the Sun. If you go back even earlier than those classics, you can see the future Looper and Inception star in a 1991 ad for Kellogg's Pop-Tarts as a child who child urging his father to have breakfast before he leaves for work and offers him the toaster pastry.

Bryan Cranston (Preparation H)

Four-time Emmy winner and one-time Academy Award nominee Bryan Cranston has worn many faces throughout his career, from a hapless suburban dad in the Malcolm in the Middle cast to a ruthless drug lord as the lead of the Breaking Bad cast. Years before then, he wore the face of a spokesperson for Preparation H in a commercial from the early 1980s.

Willem Dafoe (Mercedes Benz)

With roles like one of the best Spider-Man movie villains, Green Goblin, and others, Willem Dafoe has proven time and time again that he plays an exceptional bad guy. Thus, he was the perfect choice to star in a Super Bowl ad for Mercedes Benz as the Devil, who almost convinces a young man to trade his soul for the car until he learns how affordable it is.

Geena Davis (WMET)

With an eclectic career that includes her Academy Award-winning role in The Accidental Tourist, the horror-comedy movie favorite Beetlejuice, and plenty more, it is clear Geena Davis can be anything. So, we imagine early '80s TV viewers who lived in the region where WMET broadcasted had no trouble accepting her as the voice of the local rock radio station when she starred in its enchanting commercial.

Jeremy Renner (Duracell)

Before he was defending the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Avengers, Jeremy Renner made a living as a commercial actor. One of his greatest hits was a 90s-era Duracell ad in which he plays a tourist in Mexico whose stereo battery harnesses the power of a herd bulls.

John Travolta (U.S. Army)

Years before he played Santa in a Capital One ad and sent up his role in Grease for T-Mobile, John Travolta starred in an Army recruitment promo in 1973. Just four years later, his Academy Award-nominated lead role in Saturday Night Fever made him one of the biggest stars on the planet.

Is Whiplash Damien Chazelle’s best movie? You can make the argument. It’s already on our list of the best music movies ever made, thanks to its deft understanding of Jazz, and of the struggles to make it as a student-musician at a competitive New York conservatory. And it has an ending that we’re still talking about, for the conflicted way that it makes us feel. The magnificent film, which turns 10 this year, earned five Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), and earned the Academy Award for JK Simmons, and his portrayal of the abusive instructor/conductor Fletcher. But as it turns out, Simmons had a deep misunderstanding of Damien Chazelle before the two ever worked together.

Whiplash isn’t Chazelle’s first movie. But he wasn’t exactly “known” when it came to cast up the feature. In an Oral History of Whiplash that has been published by Vanity Fair, JK Simmons spoke about meeting Chazelle for the first time in a restaurant… and looking right past him because the skinny, curly-haired kid didn’t match the image that J. Jonah Jameson had in his mind. According to Simmons:

That’s why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. JK Simmons eventually teamed with Damien Chazelle first for a short film that eventually became Whiplash, and then again in the movie that I believe to be Chazelle’s masterpiece: the magical musical La La Land.

But Whiplash would go a long way toward establishing Damien Chazelle as one of the most exciting filmmakers of this current generation. We gave it a perfect 5 stars in our official Whiplash review, and have continued to track the director’s fascinating career, up to and including the controversial Babylon, which has its detractors but also, I feel, is going to be a movie that more people discover in years to come.

Chazelle doesn’t have an upcoming movie that we can put on your radar in the immediate future. But it’s worth noting that Whiplash will return the theaters beginning on Friday, September 20, in honor of the movie turning 10 years old. If you haven’t seen the film on the big screen, please do so. Just, bring your anxiety medication with you. You might need it by the final scene.

The 2010s were a transformative decade for movies as directors like Damien Chazelle, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele hit the mainstream, and many actors exploded into stardom or gave career-defining performances in movies like theirs. Now, it’s time to celebrate some of the best films of this decade and the performers who starred in them. 

Emma Stone – La La Land 

This ode to Old Hollywood and modern romance from Damien Chazelle is widely beloved in part because of Emma Stone's performance. If you go back to reviews for La La Land, you’ll see Stone and Ryan Gosling praised for their work as they played Mia and Sebastian, two aspiring artists who fall in love with each other. Notably, Emma Stone won her first Oscar for the film because of the wonderful performance she gave as the up-and-coming actress. 

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

When it comes to Bridesmaids and all its hilarious lines and gags, we all need to say a collective thank you to Kristen Wiig. Not only did the Saturday Night Live alum lead the stellar ensemble cast of this 2011 flick, but she also wrote the movie with Annie Mumolo, and they got an Oscar nomination for it. 

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Moonlight, which famously won Best Picture in 2017, is a coming-of-age film that follows Chiron through three stages of his life, focusing on him exploring his sexuality and identity. In it, Mahershala Ali plays Juan, a man who has a pivotal role in Chiron’s early life. Famously, Ali won his first Oscar for his moving performance in this film. 

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

Get Out is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it marked the directorial debut of Jordan Peele. While this film about the deeply dark turn a trip takes after a white woman brings her Black boyfriend home to meet her family is career-defining for its director – as he’s gone on to become quite the name in the genre – it also marked a major breakout for Daniel Kaluuya who played the film’s lead, Chris. 

Amy Adams – Arrival 

Arrival is unquestionably one of Amy Adams’ best movies, and to this day, folks are still livid that she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for it. She plays Louise, a linguist assigned to decipher and translate an alien language. However, as Arrival’s ending makes abundantly clear, there’s way more to it than that, and one of the major reasons this movie works is because of Adams’ masterful, emotional and nuanced performance. 

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

In Whiplash, one of J.K. Simmons’ best films, he plays a brilliant and brutal jazz conductor and instructor named Terence Fletcher. During the film, Miles Teller plays a young drummer named Andrew who is determined to become great, and his intense relationship with Terence and the notion of being the best is what makes Damien Chazelle’s film magnificent. On top of its overall acclaim, Simmons also won an Oscar for his performance.

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

Logan was Hugh Jackman’s last ride as the Wolverine, and it was basically perfect. While he’s returned to the role since in Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan still serves as a wonderful conclusion to the iconic X-Man’s story. It was also a game-changing Marvel film, as it brought a level of grit and intrigue that we hadn’t really seen in a movie from this universe before. 

Ben Affleck – Argo 

Much like Good Will Hunting, Argo marked a major milestone in Ben Affleck’s career. It was one of the films that solidified him as a top-tier director, and on top of that, he also starred in the film about a CIA agent disguised as a producer who goes into Tehran on a mission to save a group of Americans. Oh, also, the film went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars too. 

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

The Social Network cast is stacked, however, it wouldn’t be what it is without Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Mark Zuckerberg at its center. His nuanced performance which is somehow both collected and chaotic compliments Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking script perfectly, and he expertly helped build up tension in the film that director David Fincher is known for. All around, that made for a perfect, heart-pounding drama about the rise of Facebook.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

While Leonardo DiCaprio has a long list of career-defining performances, and he and Martin Scorsese have made many great movies together, you can’t deny that his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street tops that list. 

Brie Larson – Room

The film Room, which is about a mother and her son escaping captivity, is masterfully led by Brie Larson, who plays Ma. Both she and Jacob Tremblay, who played her son Jack, were praised for their performances, and in 2016, the actress won an Oscar for her work. 

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

Now, I know that Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond was still happening in the 2010s. However, an equally important and brilliant role he took on was as detective Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s first whodunnit Knives Out. Now, after leading the cast of Knives Out, Craig has gone on to reprise his role as the Southern detective on multiple occasions, because he loves it and so do we. 

Ryan Gosling – Drive

If you look over Ryan Gosling’s best movies, on one side you’ll find his brilliant comedic films – like Barbie and The Nice Guys – and on the other side, you’ll find his stoic and dramatic performance, like the one he gives in Drive. Put simply, Drive wouldn’t work without the actor’s lead performance, because the entire film hinges on him and his abilities. 

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

After years of working to get it made and some well-timed leaked footage, finally, in 2016, Deadpool came out and we got to see Ryan Reynolds in his element as the Merc with a Mouth. 

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

In a film about a man returning home to reckon with his past and grief after losing his brother, Casey Affleck gives an emotional and commanding performance. Not only did he win an Oscar for his work in this drama, but it’s also one of the big defining roles of his career. 

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Chris Evans began and ended his tenure as Steve Rogers in the 2010s. While all his outings as the star-spangled man with a plan were excellent, nothing tops his performance as Cap in the political thriller that is the Russo brothers’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is easily one of the best Marvel movies ever made. 

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

Under Wes Anderson’s precise direction, Ralph Fiennes occupied the pastel world of the Grand Budapest Hotel with grace and style. His fast-talking M. Gustave went on quite the adventure in this film, and he won over the hearts of audiences with his quick wit, smooth charm and impeccable work ethic. 

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

Throwing it back to the beginning of the decade, Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan showed us Natalie Portman’s talents in a new light. While she had been on the scene and in big movies for years, this film marked a major milestone in her career as her performance as a tortured ballerina got her an Academy Award. 

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

Obviously, for a couple of decades before this, Matthew McConaughey was known and beloved for fun movies like Dazed and Confused and How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. However, in 2013, Dallas Buyers Club marked a notable shift in his career. Not only did he win an Oscar for this dramatic turn as a man who finds out he has AIDS, but he also went on to star in acclaimed projects like Interstellar and True Detective one year later, cementing himself as a magnificent dramatic actor with serious range. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Yes, Jennifer Lawrence leading The Hunger Games cast is one of the biggest triumphs of her career. However, amid all of that, she starred in the beloved dramedy Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, and that’s the film for which she won her Oscar. This magnificent film about two people learning to live and thrive through grief and mental illness, is a thoughtful and funny film that Lawrence steals with her amazing performance. 

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

Moneyball is the story about the general manager of the Oakland A’s using his business savvy and what little money his team had to assemble a rag-tag team of MLB players. Brad Pitt plays said manager, Billy Beane, and I mean it when I say the movie really wouldn’t work without him. He’s at the center of it, and he carries it to victory just like his character did with the A’s.  

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

We sadly lost Chadwick Boseman way too early, however, his legacy will live on forever. This is in part because of his performance as the King of Wakanda, T’Challa. Black Panther was a historic moment in modern movie history, and his incredible take on the titular hero is a big reason why. 

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

Before I, Tonya, Margot Robbie was beloved for her supporting and ensemble roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad. However, one of the movies that helped solidify her as both a leading lady and super producer was I, Tonya. She played Tonya Harding and produced the film under the banner of her company LuckyChap – which went on to make films like Barbie and Promising Young Woman. 

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

Florence Pugh exploded onto the scene with the haunting Ari Aster film Midsommar. The movie is now considered one of the best horror movies of all time, and a big reason why is Pugh’s performance. 

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

Talk about a dynamic duo. Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan are a match made in heaven, and that was solidified into fact when the actress played the titular Lady Bird in the director’s breakout film. Not only did fans fall in love with Ronan’s performance as the defiant teenage gal, but she also received wide acclaim and an Oscar nomination for it. Plus, it was the beginning of a glorious partnership between her and Greta Gerwig as they then went on to make Little Women together. 

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

These days, when people think of Timothée Chalamet, they likely think of him as Paul Atreides, the leader of the Dune cast. However, before that (and in a different decade) the film that sprung him into the mainstream was Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The deeply romantic and tender coming-of-age drama was led beautifully by Chalamet, and since then he’s taken on more roles that have helped cement him as one of the top-leading men of his generation. 

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

If you were a kid in 2012 (like I was), odds are you learned the “Cups” song. The movie about college acapella was a phenomenon in the early 2010s, and it served as a big breakout leading role for Anna Kendrick. Not only was she funny as Becca, but everyone also became aware that she had the singing voice of an angel.  

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

Lupita Nyong’o’s first feature film was 12 Years A Slave. Her performance in the movie by Steve McQueen won her an Oscar in 2012 and solidified her as a top-tier dramatic performer. Since then, she’s gone on to star in massive blockbusters like Black Panther and A Quiet Place: Day One. 

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

There have been many amazing takes on the Joker, and Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was a totally new one. In Joker, we see the villain’s origin story, and it’s a film that’s unlike any other DC project. The haunting performance ultimately won the actor an Oscar, and he reprised the part again in Joker: Folie à Deux.

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

The movie is named after Mad Max, and he’s great, don’t get me wrong, but Furiosa steals the show. Charlize Theron’s performance as the driver in Mad Max: Fury Road is fierce and jaw-dropping, and she’s one of many reasons why George Miller’s movie is considered one of the best action films. 

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

You can’t have Scott Pilgrim vs. The World without a perfect Scott Pilgrim and that’s who Michael Cera is. He perfectly played the awkward yet heroic protagonist in Edgar Wright’s beloved film, and to this day, it's considered some of his best work.

Matt Damon – The Martian

This Ridley Scott movie is literally about one man who is stuck on Mars. Yes, there are other people in the film trying to save him. However, overall, The Martian is Matt Damon’s movie. He plays the stranded astronaut and scientist, and the heart, charisma, intelligence and even humor he brings to the space drama is unforgettable. 

All around, the 2010s were full of films that are on their way to becoming all-time classics, and it’s in part thanks to the brilliant actors who starred in them. 

We can all collectively agree that Jennifer's Body was ahead of its time and is actually incredible? Cool, cool. 

I loved this film when I was younger. When I found out the stats, I never understood why it didn't do so well at the box office, but I've always had a personal connection to it. It's not just because I'm a fan of the best horror movies ever—I don't even know if I'd put the film on that list. But, this movie is fun, zany, quirky, and a hell of a scare during certain moments. 

It's been a while since this film came out – sixteen years, if you can believe it. And the cast has indeed been up to a lot since then. Let's check back in with the Jennifer's Body cast, shall we? 

Megan Fox As Jennifer Check

Of course, we have to start off with Megan Fox, the Jennifer of Jennifer's Body. Back in 2009, you could see Fox everywhere, on every cover of every magazine, and yes, every girl wanted to be her (as I was one of those girls). 

Since then, Fox has appeared in various films, including Jonah Hex, This Is 40, The Dictator, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, Zeroville, Think Like A Dog, Rogue, Big Gold Brick, Night Teeth, and Good Mourning. She also starred in Expend4bles, the latest in the Expendables franchise. 

In terms of television, Fox held a recurring role on New Girl for a little bit, was a guest star on Dave, and was the host of Legends of the Lost with Megan Fox. She is going to appear in a new film called Subservience, a movie about an A.I. robot gaining sentience. 

Amanda Seyfried As Anita "Needy" Lesnicki

I don't know what it was about Amanda Seyfried as Needy that altered my brain chemistry, but her role in Jennifer's Body is a prime role of hers to me, and I love it. Seyfried has had quite the career, however, since her role in the film. 

Some of Seyfried's best films since then include Dear John, Red Riding Hood, In Time, Gone, the musical movie Les Miserables, Epic, Ted 2, Pan, Mank, the sequel to Mamma Mia, called Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, A Mouthful of Air, and Things Heard and Seen, among many others. 

On television, Seyfried was the star of The Dropout cast and held a starring role in the Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room. She also had a recurring role in Twin Peaks and a main role in Big Love. Coming up, she'll be on a new TV show called Long Bright River, according to Variety, and a new film called My Ex-Friend's Wedding, according to Deadline.  

Adam Brody As Nikolai Wolf

Adam Brody as Nikolai Wolf in Jennifer's Body also changed lives, and the actor has had a successful career since then. Brody has appeared in several films, such as Damsels in Distress, Scream 4 and the fifth Scream film, Lovelace, Think Like a Man Too, Yoga Hosers, Shazam! and its sequel, Isabelle, Big Bear, and The Kid Detective.

Brody also was a part of the main cast of Good Vibes, a guest on The League, and had a recurring role in Curfew. The actor also appeared in the Fleishman is in Trouble cast. Coming up, he'll be in a new Netflix miniseries called Nobody Wants This. 

Johnny Simmons As Chip Dove

Chip was honestly a good guy in Jennifer's Body, and he didn't deserve the ending he got, but he was played really well by Johnny Simmons. The actor has appeared in various films since then, including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 21 Jump Street, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The To-Do List, The Stanford Prison Experiment, and The Late Bloomer, among others. 

Simmons reprised his role from the live-action Scott Pilgrim in the anime adaptation on Netflix called Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. He also had a main role in the TV shows Girlboss and Klondike. Coming up, Simmons will be in a new movie called Bad Man, according to Deadline. 

J. K. Simmons As Mr. Wroblewski

I know you're probably surprised to see J.K. Simmons on this list, but believe it or not, he had a role in Jennifer's Body, and this actor has been active since the film's release. Aside from winning an Academy Award for Whiplash, he's also reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson several times in both the MCU Spider-Man movies and several other Spidey adaptations. 

Simmons has also had roles in movies such as The Words, Jobs, Labor Day, Dark Skies, Barefoot, Kung Fu Panda 3, Patriots Day, The Accountant, La La Land, Zootopia, Klaus, The Front Runner, Being The Ricardos and more. He's also known for his voice work and has a main role in Invincible (which is renewed for Season 3), BoJack Horseman, The Legend of Korra and more. 

Simmons has a lot coming up, but I'll say the three films you should look out for – Saturday Night, according to Deadline, a new Christmas film titled Red One, and The Accountant 2, according to Deadline.   

Amy Sedaris As Toni Lesnicki

Amy Sedaris played Toni Lesnicki in the movie. The actress has appeared in several films, including Puss in Boots, Ghosted, Somebody I Used to Know, and more. She also played a role in The Mandalorian, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, BoJack Horseman, and others. According to Deadline, she'll be in the new Smurfs film. 

Kyle Gallner As Colin Gray

Kyle Gallner played Colin Gray in the horror film. The actor has appeared in various movies, including Beautiful Boy, Dear White People, The Passenger, Smile, American Sniper, and more. He also had a main role on The Outsiders TV show, and a recurring role in The Shield, among several other television parts. 

He'll be in the new Smile 2, which is part of the 2024 movie release schedule. 

Cynthia Stevenson As Mrs. Dove

Cynthia Stevenson played Mrs. Dove in Jennifer's Body. She's also appeared in the films Tiger Eyes and Baja, and has starred in TV shows like Your Family or Mine, How to Get Away with Murder, and The Good Doctor. She doesn't currently have anything coming up, but we'll keep an eye out. 

Chris Pratt As Officer Roman Duda

Yes, Chris Pratt was in Jennifer's Body, believe it or not, as Roman Duda. The actor gained wide fame after his role in the Parks and Recreation cast and for his part as Star Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Pratt has appeared in several other films as well, such as Moneyball, The Five Year Engagement, Zero Dark Thirty, Passengers, the Jurassic World trilogy, The Super Mario Bros Movie and The Garfield Movie. He also has a main role in the TV show, The Terminal List. Coming up, Pratt will be in a new movie called The Electric State from the Russo Brothers, and a new film called Mercy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Carrie Genzel As Mrs. Check

Last but not least, we have Carrie Genzel, who played Mrs. Check. She's appeared in movies such as Evil Feed, They're Watching, The Layover and Parallel since the film's release. 

She's also had roles in TV shows like The Walking Dead, Sistas, and several TV films. She doesn't have anything coming up yet, but hopefully it won't be too long before we see her again. 

The Jennifer's Body cast is so talented, and honestly, I can't wait to see what they do over the next sixteen years. Jennifer's Body 2, anyone?

Thanks to delving into the Marvel multiverse, the MCU has been able to bring back multiple actors from older Marvel franchises to play variants of their characters, like Patrick Stewart’s Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in The Marvels and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine, the latest of the Marvel movies in order. In 2019, however, it was novel to see J.K. Simmons appear as the MCU’s version of J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man: Far From Home mid-credits scene. Although Simmons was game to reprise the character he’d previously played in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man series, the actor was perplexed upon learning about the changes being made for this version of Jameson.

While going over his career with GQ, Simmons first discussed his time working on Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, with the middle entry ranking as one of our best movies of the 2000s. He then recalled how he reacted upon learning that Marvel Studios wanted him to play the J. Jonah Jameson who resided in the MCU, which came literally after the main Far From Home shoot was finished. As he explained:

Rather than recast J. Jonah Jameson, Jon Watts, who directed the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy, said in 2019 that there was “never any discussion” about anyone else playing the character besides J.K. Simmons. As a refresher, in this reality, Jameson operates TheDailyBugle.net, a sensationalist news website rather than a newspaper, and he aired the doctored footage that put together by Mysterio’s allies that framed Holland’s Spidey for the Elemental attack in London and revealed his secret identity. As you can see, Simmons was surprised by the ways they were going to modernize Jameson, but he still agreed to shoot that brief scene. Simmons continued:

Following his return in Spider-Man: Far From Home, more footage of J. Jonah Jameson blabbing about Spider-Man was shown in Venom: Let There Be Carnage and The Daily Bugle web series, and then J.K. Simmons had a slightly expanded role in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Simmons has talked before about how he fought to make sure his Jameson retained the mustache and cigar, and while the former remained intact, we still haven’t seen him puffing the latter. Maybe if he’s brought back for Spider-Man 4 (which Jon Watts isn’t expected to direct), a little screen time can be carved out for him to enjoy a cigar. As for Simmons’ theories about the MCU’s Jameson being bald because they didn’t have enough time to make him a wig, I too am curious to learn if that’s true, but it’s a moot point now. There’s no going back this blowhard being bald.

You can revisit J.K. Simmons’ Spider-Man: Far From Home cameo with a Disney+ subscription, and Spider-Man: No Way Home can be streamed on Starz. Otherwise, read our upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows guides to see what’s on the MCU horizon.

Oz never won an Emmy for best series or any other major awards, but its cast of inmates, prison staff, and other fourth-wall-breaking characters were more than deserving of any and all praise received during the HBO show’s six-season run. And while series creator Tom Fontana had a habit of killing off many of those beloved personalities without a moment’s notice, there were several dozen that were around for a long time.

Here are 32 Oz characters that appeared in the most episodes. 

Warden Leo Glynn - 56 Episodes

Oswald State Penitentiary, or Oswald State Correctional Facility, as it’s known in later seasons, warden Leo Glynn (Ernie Hudson) appeared in all 56 episodes of Oz, and was a major player in just about every single one of those installments. Though other characters had more to do, Glynn’s longevity and ability to survive scandal should be marveled.

Vern Schillinger - 56 Episodes

Prisoner #92S110, Vern Schillinger  (J.K. Simmons) was undoubtedly one of the most terrifying characters on Oz. The head of the prison’s Aryan Brotherhood chapter, this unapologetic neo-Nazi took great pleasure in making life miserable for his fellow inmates, with a particular amount of attention pointed towards one cellmate in particular throughout his 56-episode run.

Tobias Beecher - 56 Episodes

Prisoner #97B412, Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen) was one of the only main characters to survive Oz and appeared in all 56 episodes. However, Beecher didn’t leave unscathed, as the prison system turned him from a man convicted of vehicular manslaughter serving 15 years to one of the most unhinged inmates in the “Emerald City.”

Ryan O’Reily - 56 Episodes

Before Dean Winters was showing up as part of the Law & Order: SVU cast or portraying “Mayhem” in those Allstate commercials, he took on the role of Ryan O’Reily, aka Prisoner #97P904, in every episode of Oz. Sentenced to life in prison, O’Reily did everything he could to make life enjoyable for himself and painful for everyone else, which didn’t always work out for the inmate.

Bob Redabow - 56 Episodes

Prisoner #65R814, Bob Redabow (George Morfogen) was the oldest inmate living in Emerald City as well as one of the few prisoners to survive all six seasons of Oz. One of the few inmates who could navigate from group to group without facing any serious repercussions, Redabow was essentially the prison’s grandfather figure with all kinds of quirks and odd behaviors.

Tim McManus - 55 Episodes

Portrayed by Terry Kinney, Tim McManus was the mastermind behind the Emerald City project and a pivotal figure throughout all six seasons of Oz. However, McManus wasn’t around for the entire series as he was absent from an episode about halfway through the show’s run.

Sister Peter Marie Reimondo - 55 Episodes

Sister Peter Marie Reimondo, portrayed by Oscar-winner Rita Moreno, was a no-nonsense yet compassionate Catholic nun who provided emotional and spiritual support for inmates and prison staff alike. Appearing in all but one episode – the Oz Season 1 finale – Sister Pete was instrumental in the show’s progress and major storylines.

Augustus Hill - 55 Episodes

Prisoner #95H522, Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau) was a prisoner serving life for second-degree murder and drug possession who also acted as the series’ narrator. At the beginning and end of nearly every episode, HIll’s narrator would set up the story, offer commentary, and play with the audience in extravagant and unforgettable ways.

Kareem Said - 51 Episodes

Prisoner #97S444, Kareem Said (Eamonn Walker) was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison for committing arson and second-degree murder, a sentence that ended up being for life by the time it was said and done. A key figure in several of the show’s biggest storylines, Said appeared in 51 of 56 episodes, putting him near the top of the list.

Poet - 49 Episodes

Prisoner #96J352, Arnold “Poet” Jackson, portrayed by the late Craig “Mums” Grant, was actually released from prison and given a second chance at life partway through his 16-year sentence for attempted murder. However, the former drug user with a knack for the written word and slam poetry didn’t make it long in the outside world before he was back in Emerald City as Prisoner #98J448, appearing in 49 episodes overall.

Zahir Arif - 48 Episodes

Prisoner #97A622, Zahir Arif (Granville Adams) was one of Kareem Said’s most faithful Muslim followers throughout Oz and had a reputation of being one of the show’s most peaceful and cool-headed inmates. A major player in all six seasons, Arif showed up in 48 episodes.

Agamemnon Busmalis - 47 Episodes

Introduced in Oz Season 2, Agamemnon Busmalis (Tom Mardirosian), aka Prisoner #98B242, was one of the strangest and most interesting inmates living in Emerald City. Given the nickname “The Mole” because of his expertise in breaking and entering, Busmalis was around for all but a few episodes.

Miguel Alvarez - 47 Episodes

Miguel Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo), or Prisoner #97A413, appeared in a total of 47 episodes by the time everything was said and done in Oz. At times evil, vindictive, and scheming while at others moral and sympathetic, Alvarez was one of the most interesting and well-written characters to call Em City home.

Father Ray Mukada - 46 Episodes

Portrayed by BD Wong, Father Ray Mukada was a key member of the prison staff in Oz, providing emotional and spiritual assistance for anyone who asked. However, he was prone to lose it from time to time and get wrapped up in storylines that went against his religious background.

Chucky Pancamo - 46 Episodes

Chucky Pancamo (Chuck Zito), aka Prisoner #97P468, was one of the most physically intimidating prisoners on Oz and also one of the most present members of the “Wiseguys” mafia-adjacent group. From his introduction in Season 2 and until the series finale, Pancamo was a tough-as-nails character.

Officer Joseph Mineo - 46 Episodes

Though you probably don’t remember him, Officer Joseph Mineo (Philip V. Scozzarella) appeared in 46 episodes of Oz, though mostly in the background. Still, Mineo managed to survive to see the series through when so many others met their maker.

Cyril O’Reily - 45 Episodes

Cyril O’Reily (Scott William Winters), better known as Prisoner #98P284, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder which was ordered by his brother, Ryan. Mentally handicapped after being injured in a fight, Cyril was largely seen as a more sympathetic character on Oz and was featured in 45 episodes.

Chico Guerra - 40 Episodes

Prisoner #96G522, Chico Guerra (Otto Sanchez) was a somewhat integral prisoner throughout all but the first season of Oz. A member of the Latinos group in Emerald City, Chico was always up to some scheme, oftentimes involving Miguel Alvarez.

Officer Sean Murphy - 38 Episodes

Officer Sean Murphy (Robert Clohessy) was the head of security in Emerald City and one of the most honest and virtuous characters featured throughout the series. Appearing in 38 episodes, Murphy was someone well-liked by all in the prison.

Chris Keller - 37 Episodes

When it comes to unhinged Oz characters, few come close to Chris Keller (Christopher Meloni). Introduced as Prisoner #98K514 partway through the show’s second season, Keller was the devil incarnate, especially during his tense relationship with Tobias Beecher. And talk about a kill-count, Keller played a role in nearly two dozen deaths.

James Robson - 36 Episodes

Prisoner #97R492, James Robson (R.E. Rodgers) earned a trip to Oswald State Penitentiary after being convicted of first-degree murder and being sentenced to 25-to-life. A key figure in Vern Schillinger’s Aryan Brotherhood group outside of Emerald City, Robson did a lot of the dirty work and had crazy survival instincts, which led to some wild situations throughout the 36 episodes in which he appeared.

Officer Claire Howell - 35 Episodes

Officer Claire Howell (Kristin Rohde) was one of the most predatory characters featured in all of Oz, which is saying something. Featured in 35 episodes, Howell preyed on prisoners like Ryan O’Reilly, Chris Keller, and others and forced them to fulfill her needs and insatiable appetite. Oh, and she was incredibly violent.

Officer Len Lopresti - 33 Episodes

Officer Len Lopresti (Carl DiMaggio) was one of the meaner, more violent, and more racist prison guards featured throughout Oz. Though he appeared in 33 episodes, a lot of the time he was only spotted in the background or watching over death row inmates.

Jaz Hoyt - 33 Episodes

Portrayed by Biohazard frontman Evan Seinfeld, Jaz Hoyt, Prisoner #98H432, was a key member of the biker gang set up in Oswald and played a role in some of the bigger storylines throughout his stay. He pretty much appeared in every episode from the time of his Season 2 debut until the series finale some years later.

Simon Adebisi - 32 Episodes

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje portrayed Simon Adebisi, Prisoner #93A234, throughout the first four seasons of Oz, appearing in a total of 32 episodes. A ruthless prisoner who played a major role in the prison’s drug trade and more senseless acts of violence, Adebisi was also one of the most unhinged and unforgettable characters from the series.

Governor James Devlin - 27 Episodes

Governor James Devlin (Zeljko Ivanek) is in the running for biggest prick in Oz as the self-serving politician stopped at nothing to make himself look better by making everyone else do the hard part. Featured in all six seasons, Devlin was a thorn in the side of prison staff, especially Warden Leo Glynn.

Timmy Kirk - 28 Episodes

Prisoner #96K423, Timmy Kirk (Sean Dugan) was a key part of the Irish gang established in Oswald State Penitentiary and popped up in a total of 28 episodes before it was all said and done. And spoiler alert, but Kirk was killed off in electric fashion, quite literally, in the show’s sixth and final season.

Enrique Morales - 26 Episodes

An actor who may have forgotten was on Oz, David Zayas portrayed Enrique Morales in a total of 26 episodes. Prisoner #00M871, Morales came to Em City in the show’s fourth season and made an impact on the power dynamic by forming an alliance with Chuck Pancamo. That wouldn’t last long though…

Burr Redding - 23 Episodes

Burr Redding (Anthony Chisholm), Prisoner #01R289, showed up at the end of Oz Season 4 and made an immediate impact in Emerald City. The stepfather of Augustus Hill, Redding quickly took over the Homeboys gang following the death of its former leader, Simon Adebisi, and made the outfit one of the toughest in the prison. In his 23 episodes, Redding made friends, enemies, and a series of decisions that led to major events later on.

Kenny Wangler - 23 Episodes

Kenny “Bricks” Wangler (J.D. Williams), aka Prisoner #97W566, became the youngest inmate living within the confines of Emerald City after being convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison at the age of 16. A major player in the show’s first four seasons, Wangler was one of Simon Adebisi’s key allies as well as someone who would do anything asked of him for his crew. Williams would end up playing one of the most-used characters on The Wire several years later.

Officer Diane Wittlesey - 23 Episodes

Before Edie Falco went on to star in The Sopranos, she played Officer Diane Whittlesey in the early seasons of Oz. One of the highest-ranking prison guards in Oswarld, Whittlesey often spent her time in Emerald City where she was firm but fair with inmates and prison staff alike. All in all, Falco showed up in 23 episodes of Oz before her character went to England on vacation and fell in love with a Royal Guardsman, much to the chagrin of on-again, off-again love interest Tim McManus.

Omar White - 22 Episodes

Portrayed by Michael Wright, Omar White, Prisoner #01W711 was one of the wildest and most unpredictable inmates to ever enter the walls of Oswald State Penitentiary. Introduced in the final episodes of Season 4, White remained a key figure in and around Emerald City for the remaining years of the show, appearing in a total of 22 episodes. If there was a major storyline in the final three seasons, White was involved someway or somehow and for better or worse. 

From the moment it debuted with a two-hour pilot episode in September of 1994 until it left the air in 2009, ER was a ratings monster. It regularly topped the ratings for the year during its 331-episode run and launched careers left and right. George Clooney for goodness sake! Not only did it have big stars in its regular cast like Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Maura Tierney, and Eriq LaSalle, but it also had a huge amount of guest stars and up-and-coming actors roll through the show. Here is our list of some of the biggest. 

Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman is most well known for playing the great Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation where he regularly delivered some of the funniest lines on the show. He didn't have anything funny to say in his one role on ER where he played a bandmate of a bass player in distress in the emergency room.  

Taraji P. Henson

The accolades for Taraji P. Henson's acting have come fast and fierce in recent years, but she's been showcasing her talent on screen since the late '90s. One of her earliest roles was in a Season 4 episode of ER, and then in Season 5, she returned in a different role. She kept landing guest roles for years on shows like CSI and Boston Legal before landing her starring turn in Empire and the rest is history. 

Bradley Whitford

A few years before the role of Josh Lyman on The West Wing would make him a star, Bradley Whitford appeared in two episodes of ER in 1995. He'd been working regularly for almost a decade at that point and would find small roles here and there for another few years before The West Wing. He's been an in-demand actor ever since. 

Kristin Davis

Before she was a regular on Melrose Place, and before she was one of Jerry's many girlfriends on Seinfeld, Kristin Davis played a woman who was very into George Clooney's character very briefly in one episode of the first season of ER. While she only showed up once on the show, it clearly opened some big doors - and big martini glasses - in the future. 

Zac Efron

Before becoming a star in High School Musical, Zac Efron was almost type-cast as a troubled teen. On ER he played a teenager who turned up in the emergency room after being shot. He was also a troublemaker in an early role on NCIS. These days he's one of the biggest stars to grace the screen, but he used to just be in trouble on screen! 

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor is something different to different generations. For some, he'll always be Renton in Trainspotting. Of course, for many, he'll always be a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. For even others, he's known as the guy who drove his motorcycle around the world in Long Way Round. You can't help but wonder if that name was inspired by his guest spot on ER in a Season 3 episode called "The Long Way Around" in 1997. 

Julie Bowen

While Julie Bowen is best known these days for playing Claire Dunphy in Modern Family, her career stretches way further back. Her first TV role came in the early '90s and her breakout role came in the 1993 Adam Sandler smash hit Happy Gilmore. In the late '90s, she had a nine-episode run on ER as the reoccurring character named Roxanne Please, who was John Carter's (Noah Wyle) girlfriend. 

Ving Rhames

1994 was a big year for Ving Rhames. Not only did he star in Pulp Fiction, but he also landed a reoccurring role as Walt Robbins, father-in-law to Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle). In total, he appeared in eight episodes over three seasons, but by then he'd also starred in Mission: Impossible and the rest is history. 

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu is no stranger to hit television shows. She was a star of Ally McBeal in the '90s and '00s, and in Elementary in the teens. Early on, she also appeared in cameos and supporting roles on big shows like NYPD Blue and The X-Files. She also made it onto three episodes of ER, in 1995. 

Chris Pine

Believe it or not, there was a time when Chris Pine wasn't one of the "Chrises" and wasn't one of the biggest movie stars in the world. He was, in his early days, just like so many other actors, just looking to snag any role they could. Luckily for Pine, it was on a show like ER. In fact, the show he appeared in during Season 9 of the show was his first credited acting performance. 

Don Cheadle

When Don Cheadle appeared as a doctor in a 4-episode arc in 2002 on ER, he was already well-established as an actor. In fact, it came not long after he was established enough to take his name off the credits of Ocean's Eleven, despite delivering some of the best one-liners in the movie. 

J.K. Simmons

Any fan of Law & Order knows just how ingrained J.K. Simmons was in prime-time television around the turn of the century. He was a regular on that show, and he turned up in a bunch of others as well, including an episode of ER in 2004. you can always count on a great J.K. Simmons performance, no matter what he is in. 

Christina Hendricks

While she had been cast in a number of shows before Mad Men, Christina Hendricks had never really broken through as a star. That changed with the AMC show, but before that, she was just a regular hard-working actress in Hollywood. One of her earliest gigs was on ER in 2002. 

Adam Scott

Adam Scott is not the only Parks And Recreation star to appear in ER early in his career, but he did have a pretty intense role as an injured man clinging to life in the emergency room way back in 1995. It's hard to imagine it took 15 more years to get the big-time attention he deserves when he landed his role on Park & Rec. 

Glen Howerton

In 2005 Always Sunny In Philadelphia took the world by storm and went on to become one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time. Glen Howerton played a huge part in that, as one of the stars and co-creators. A couple of years earlier, he was playing a very different role as a doctor in six Episodes of ER during its 10th Season. 

Keiko Agena

Gilmore Girls regular and co-star of Prodigal Son, Keiko Agena is one of the few actors who played two different characters on ER. She first appeared on the show very early in her career, in 1998, then later appeared in the final season in 2009. 

Jessica Chastain

With three Oscar nominations and one win, Jessica Chastain has proven she's among the best Hollywood has to offer. She proved her acting years ago though, in shows like ER. In only her second credited role, she appeared on ER in 2004 in an episode called "Forgive and Forget."

Aaron Paul

For most people, Aaron Paul is best known for his legendary role in Breaking Bad but years before that show would become a hit, he played a pretty similar character on ER in an episode called "A Saint in the City," way back in 2003. 

Octavia Spencer

In 1998 when Octavia Spencer appeared on ER, it was the latest in a string of supporting roles she landed early in her career. That string would continue for a little while longer before she emerged as one of the most beloved stars of the teens and '20s after her star-making role in The Help.

Mena Suvari

As it was for a lot of cast members, American Pie was huge for Mena Suvari. She had been working for a few years in Hollywood before that, picking up roles here and there in shows like Boy Meets World and movies like The Slums of Beverly Hills. Another early role came in a 1998 episode of ER where she played a high school cheerleader who didn't want to listen to her doctors. 

Kirsten Dunst

As a child actor, Kirsten Dunst's career started when she was just six years old. It would be a few years before she landed a brief reoccurring role as a troubled teen in six episodes of ER in the show's third season. 

Dakota Fanning

Quite a few child actors who went on to greater fame came through the doors of the emergency room at Cook County General Hospital, including a young Dakota Fanning. Fanning played a young girl named Delia who came in after a car accident and viewers find out she's a cancer survivor. 

James Cromwell

One of the ultimate "that guys" in Hollywood, James Cromwell has been acting for decades. His career really started in earnest in the mid-'70s and he's been playing supporting and starring roles ever since. On ER, he played a drug-seeking priest in four episodes in Season 7. 

Josh Peck

Josh Peck was a breakout Nickelodeon star as half of Drake & Josh. That wasn't his first role though. After a few small roles and a reoccurring spot in The Amanda Show (which led to Drake & Josh), he landed a small role in an episode of ER in 2002 as a kid with heart problems. 

Eva Mendes

Before Eva Mendes semi-retired to raise her family with Ryan Gosling, she was one of the biggest stars on the planet. You can trace her career all the way back to her very first role which came in 1998 on an episode of ER. It's wild to look back and watch her doing her first on-screen performances with George Clooney and not think about what lay ahead for both of them. 

Shia LaBeouf

Without a doubt, Shia LaBeouf has had one of the wildest careers of the 21st Century. There have been times when he was on top of the world, and others when he... definitely wasn't. One high point early in his career was of a kid in the emergency room of Cook County General in 2000, during Season 6. 

Milana Vayntrub

Milana Vayntrub eventually became one of the most recognizable actors in commercials as the AT&T pitchwoman. Long before that though, she was like a lot of child actors who got their start on ER. She appeared in three episodes, her first three credited roles, as a Russian girl, way back in Season 1. 

John Mahoney

Before scoring the role of a lifetime as Martin Crane on Fraiser, John Mahoney had been a steadily working actor going back to the '70s. After Frasier, he could pretty much write his own ticket. One role he chose to take was that of a self-professed "drag queen" whose long-time boyfriend was in rough shape in the hospital on ER in 2006, making a strong statement about gay marriage before many were brave enough to join him. 

Janel Moloney

One of the many great actresses who found early work in their career on ER was Janel Moloney. Moloney scored only a handful of roles between that and The West Wing, but boy was the West Wing lucky to have her - as was ER in its first season when she appeared in one episode. 

Amy Ryan

One of the most underrated characters in The Wire has to be Beadie Russell, played by Amy Ryan. About a decade before she joined The Wire in Season 2, she starred in a single episode of ER in the show's first season. She's been in many TV shows and movies since, including a beloved recurring role on The Office and in the underrated Netflix original Worth.

Rosemary Clooney

George Clooney isn't the only famous person in his family. His aunt is, of course, the inimitably Rosemary Clooney, who was one of the most beloved singers of her generation. She only had about a dozen acting credits on her impressive resume, but one was ER during the show's first season. What a great experience for her and her nephew. Her son, actor Miguel Ferrer, also appeared in an uncredited role in the series premiere of the show. 

Dan Hedaya

If you grew up in the '90s, Dan Hedaya was seemingly everywhere, but he's probably best remember by that generation as Cher Horowitz's angry but loving father in Clueless. On ER, he plays a lawyer with... questionable ethics, but a heart of gold. He appeared in four episodes over the length of the whole show. remembered

2016 was a movie year to remember. La La Land took the world by storm, Deadpool was a massive hit and Moana is still considered one of Disney’s most rewatchable animated favorites. There were also some surprising sleeper hits that grew an viewers over time. One of these was The Accountant, a Ben Affleck-led action thriller about a mathematics savant who secretly does accounting for criminal organizations. With the quiet success of the film, murmurings of a sequel started to emerge a year later. Now, it seems like The Accountant 2 is happening (and soon). With that,  J.K. Simmons is opening up about getting the movie made with Affleck and co., and I'm pumped!

Rumors of a sequel emerged in 2017 and, by 2021, it was reported that development was moving forward with Jon Bernthal. Now, there are clearer signs that work is underway. Recently, Ben Affleck shaved his beard in preparation to play Christian Wolff again. That alone was enough to get any fans hyped and indicate that production would start imminently. J.K. Simmons, who is also set to reprise his role as Ray King in The Accountant 2, seemed to confirm those rumblings. He told Collider: 

The original movie did well in theaters, becoming a surprise 2016 hit and raking in $155.2 million worldwide against a $44 million dollar budget. The film surprised even more as it was the most rented movie of 2017 and has consistently performed well on streaming since then. These stats alone seemed to be enough to warrant a sequel, yet the journey to get the movie off the ground was no walk in the park. J.K. Simmons credited director Gavin O’Connor and Ben Affleck for finally moving the project forward and making sure that fans get to see these characters on the big screen once again. He said: 

It’s been a while since The Accountant was released, but fans should still be excited for what the follow up film has to offer. Most of the main cast is back, except for Anna Kendrick, who is not set to return. The logline for the sequel states that The Accountant 2 will follow Affleck’s Christian Wolff, who is tasked with solving the murder of the boss of Marybeth Medina, who is played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson. The Medina character shared a number of scenes with J.K. Simmon’s Ray King in the first movie, and I can’t wait to find out how he fits into this highly anticipated sequel! Simmons always brings it in supporting roles so, hopefully, this is no exception. 

Meanwhile, the leading man is a busy actor, as there a number of upcoming projects starring Ben Affleck that are also in the works. Thankfully, he was able to make time for the action flick and put production in motion by securing the rights to the franchise through his production company Artists Equity.

 J.K. Simmons wasn’t exaggerating when he said his co-star put in the work to get the film made, despite it being an uphill battle. With the former Batman actor securing the rights under his company, this also means there is a potential threequel if the success of this latest installment mirrors that of the original. For the sake of action fans everywhere, fingers crossed!

Filming is underway, but fans still have to wait until we get an official release date for The Accountant 2. In the meantime, you can check out Ben Affleck and J.K. Simmons in its 2016 predecessor, which is now streaming for Netflix subscribers. Also, for more information on other films heading to theaters and streaming in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule. 

The Parks and Rec cast by itself is legendary. Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rob Lowe, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott and more served as regulars on the series for years, and to this day their characters are beloved. However, what made this show even more special was its constant stream of guest stars played by living legends. Everyone from Bill Murray to Michelle Obama to Ben Schwartz appeared on the NBC classic, and today, we’re here to talk about them. 

Paul Rudd

Now, I know we love Paul Rudd for his movies, but we also need to appreciate his brilliant work as Bobby Newport on Parks and Rec. During Season 4, the actor joined the cast to play the man running against Leslie Knope for a city council position. Overall, Bobby is childish, not smart and spoiled, and Rudd plays this silly idiot brilliantly. 

Bill Murray

Obviously, Bill Murray’s funniest roles include iconic characters like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day and Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters. However, his guest spot on Parks and Rec was unexpected and incredibly memorable. I write this because, for one episode in Season 7, the Saturday Night Live legend played Walter Gunderson, the dead mayor of Pawnee. 

Kathryn Hahn

Playing the cutthroat campaign manager Jen Barkley, Kathryn Hahn made a glorious (and a smidge evil) impact on Parks and Rec. She played a cutthroat manager who worked for Bobby Newport at first, and across ten episodes she popped in from time to time to both help and harm Leslie’s political career. 

Ben Schwartz 

Arguably, Jean-Ralphio Saperstein is one of the best recurring guest stars in Parks and Rec history. The rich boy who is friends with Tom is ridiculous, scammy and he’s constantly trying to flirt with everyone and sing whenever he can. While he’s 100% the worst, he’s also totally not “the WORRRRRRSSSSSTTTT,” if you know what I mean.  

Jenny Slate

In a stroke of perfect casting, Jenny Slate popped into Parks and Rec to play Jean-Ralphio’s sister Mona Lisa Saperstein. The siblings truly are the most chaotic duo, however, they’re also the two of the funniest extra side characters the sitcom has to offer. Just don’t fall for it when they ask for “money please!”

Henry Winkler

After getting to know Jean-Ralphio and Mona Lisa, we meet their father, Lu Saperstein in Season 6. Played brilliantly by Henry Winkler, the patriarch of the Saperstein family is a successful doctor who is willing to go to any financial length to help his kids. 

Sam Elliott

In the later seasons of the show, we met the Eagleton Parks Department. Ironically, each member of that crew matched up with a member of the Parks and Rec cast, and when it came to picking someone to play Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson’s counterpart, they cast Sam Elliott as Ron Dunn. While they both have legendary mustaches and an appreciation for the outdoors, that’s where the similarities stop, and seeing Ron and Anti-Ron go head-to-head was hilarious. 

Joe Biden

Leslie loves her politicians and had a massive crush on then-Vice President Joe Biden. As an engagement gift, Ben decided to give her the perfect present and prove that he’s the ideal man, by coordinating a meet and greet between Leslie and Joe Biden.

Patton Oswalt

When Leslie tries to change Pawnee’s charter to get rid of some silly laws – like throwing a Ted into a lake – Garth Blundin makes his disapproval clear. Patton Oswalt plays the historian, and he challenges Amy Poehler’s character to a filibuster and a day of living like a colonial person. Ultimately, he and Leslie find common ground, and he joins forces with her to help preserve the laws…he also volunteers to get thrown in the lake.

Michelle Obama

As Leslie tries to figure out if she should take a job at the National Parks Department and leave Pawnee, Michelle Obama comes in to tell her about why she should take it. Let’s just say if I met the First Lady, I think I’d be just as star-struck as Leslie Knope. How could you not stumble over your words if you casually bumped into the First Lady of the United States?

Bo Burnham

Some of the funniest stand-up on Netflix comes from Bo Burnham, and in his special Make Happy, he sings a “Country Song” that pokes fun at the cliches in the genre and how some artists are masters at pandering to their audiences. On Parks and Rec, he worked with that idea as well by playing country singer Chipp McCapp who Leslie and Andy tried to hire for a performance at the Unity Concert. His songs like “Beautiful Like My Mom (Support the Troops)” were truly hilarious, and they complimented the stand-up comedian's sense of humor very well. 

John McCain

Parks and Rec knows how to do a political cameo, and one of the best ones came when Leslie didn’t even realize she’d just met John McCain in a coat closet. She was so distraught over interacting with #4 and #26 on Leslie’s list of amazing women, that she didn’t even notice she was speaking with the senator. 

Megan Mullally

You know chaos mode has been activated when Ron’s second ex-wife Tammy II enters the chat. She’s constantly trying to simultaneously take Ron down and get back together with her, and his efforts to avoid it are truly hilarious. However, what really makes this dynamic duo so hysterical and one of the best recurring inside jokes on Parks and Rec is the fact that Tammy II is played by Nick Offerman’s real-life wife Megan Mullally. 

Will Forte

Amy Poehler and Will Forte were both in some of SNL’s best casts, and it was such a treat to see them reunite on Parks and Rec. In his episode, Forte played Kelly, a man who really wants to get the Twilight books put in Pawnee’s town time capsule. When Leslie refuses and then agrees, it starts an outcry over what can and can’t go in the capsule via a chaotic town meeting. 

Jon Hamm

According to Leslie, Jon Hamm’s Ed is the “most incompetent person I’ve ever worked with.” He worked for our leading lady when she was at the National Parks Department, and he was swiftly fired by her not long after we met him. 

John Cena

In an epic episode of Andy’s show, the Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show, Burt Macklin, FBI, arrested John Cena – who was wearing so much of his own WWE merch – and took him to the dunk tank. Talk about a dream come true for Andy and viewers.

Keegan-Michael Key

There’s no question that all our hearts grew a few sizes when Donna married Keegan-Michael Key’s Joe. The comedian played the “Treat yo’ self’ queen’s boyfriend-turned-husband in Seasons 6 and 7, and it’s safe to say that we all adored this music teacher. 

Bradley Whitford

Considering Parks and Rec is a show about government and Rob Lowe is one of its stars, it made perfect sense for a West Wing cast member to pop into the sitcom. It was done perfectly too, because the team brought in Josh himself, as Bradley Whitford played Councilman Pillner, the man Leslie replaces on City Council and a model boat enthusiast. 

J.K. Simmons

Remember Ice Town? Well, Ben’s hometown of Partridge and J.K. Simmons’ Mayor Stice sure do. And that became clear as day when an episode of Parks went back to Adam Scott’s character’s hometown so he could get a key to the city, which ended up just being melted water in a box…because Ice Town. 

Patricia Clarkson

While Megan Mullally’s Tammy II is truly unhinged and chaotic, Tammy I is cold, calculated, and manipulative. She’s played by Patricia Clarkson, and she really adds to the hilarious chaos that is Ron Swanson’s love life. 

Andy Samberg

Back when Andy Samberg was still on Saturday Night Live and before he led his own sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he guest starred on Parks and Rec as the incredibly loud Park Ranger Carl. During Season 2, Leslie worked with Carl on a few issues of Parks security, and let's just say that she “might not be so confident, when [she has to] walk a mile in [Carl’s]  size sevens.” 

Rachel Dratch

In the final season of Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler’s Saturday Night Live co-star Rachel Dratch appeared as Roz Pinwheel, the nanny of Leslie and Ben’s triplets. While a small role, it was such a nice (and funny) nod to the two comedians' time together on the legendary sketch comedy show.

Nick Kroll

If you were looking to get humiliated on the radio look no further than "The Douche." This hilarious and terrible radio host was played by the mastermind behind one of the best animated shows, Big Mouth, Nick Kroll, and anytime he showed up to host a radio spot on the series, you knew something wild was about to go down.

Chelsea Peretti

While Leslie ran for City Council, April filled in for her one time, and during one of her seminars Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Chelsea Peretti showed up as one of the attendees, Zelda. Fun fact: before Peretti was part of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she actually wrote two episodes of Parks and Rec, which helps explain her lil cameo in the series. 

Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell was quite literally the perfect person to play Leslie Knope’s Eagleton councilwoman counterpart, Ingrid de Forest. It turns out, Bell was born to thrive on a comedy like this, because after Parks and Rec, she went on to lead the cast of The Good Place, which was Michael Schur’s next show after Parks.  

Dax Shepard

When Tom decides to become Andy’s manager as he works on Johnny Karate, they have a run-in with Hank Muntak, a TV executive in Pawnee who is played by Dax Shepard. Before this guest spot, the actor had spent a lot of time on NBC as one of the stars of Parenthood, these days you can find him hosting his podcast Armchair Expert. 

Will Arnett

Before Leslie meets and falls in love with Ben, she goes on some wildly terrible dates, including one with MRI technician Chris. At the time, Amy Poehler and Will Arnett were actually married (they’re divorced now), making this blind date even funnier because they were a real-life couple too. 

Sean Hayes

Bobby Wood was Indianapolis’ best talk show host, and he was played by Sean Hayes. As television appearances tend to go for Leslie and co. her interview with him didn’t exactly go well, and both comedic actors were so funny in the moment. 

Fred Armisen

You can always count on Fred Armisen to play the wildest goofy guys, and he did exactly that on Parks and Recreation. In the episode “Sister City,” the SNL vet appeared as Raul Alejandro Bastilla Pedro de Veloso de Maldonado, the Venezuelan officer who came to represent his city on a trip to Pawnee. 

Tatiana Maslany

Tom Haverford’s love life was always a funny point of interest on Parks and Rec, especially because it was only brought up occasionally. For instance, in Season 6, he had a short-lived relationship with Tatiana Maslany’s Nadia Stasky, a doctor who eventually left Pawnee and moved to Rwanda.  

Parker Posey

Indie darling Parker Posey came on to Parks and Rec to play Lindsay Carlisle Shay. The character was Leslie’s counterpart from Eagleton, meaning she was the Deputy Parks Director in Pawnee’s fancy rival town. The twist here was that Lindsay was actually Leslie’s friend and went behind her back a long time ago to take the job in Eagleton. 

Jason Schwartzman

Jason Schwartzman’s role in Parks and Rec presented an interesting issue for Pawnee when he decided to turn his video rental store into an adult store. Watching Leslie flounder as she figured out how to help the character played by the Asteroid City star was so funny, and the character of Dennis was perfect for Schwartzman.  

Honestly, the guest stars from Parks and Rec are next level. From comedy geniuses to beloved dramatic actors, so many notable names took a quick trip to Pawnee, Indiana and I love that for them, this wonderful show and us. 

The DC Extended Universe had a wild life in theaters, full of peaks and valleys. During Zack Snyder's original trilogy (which is streaming with a Max subscription), J.K. Simmons was cast as Commissioner Gordon, to the delight of fans. Ahead of Justice League, Simmons went viral for his ripped arms. And now he's finally reacted to the chatter surrounding his biceps. 

J.K. Simmons appeared as Gordon in both version of Justice League, with an extended role in the Snyder Cut. He reprised that role for the scrapped Batgirl movie, which would have beeb a much larger role. The Whiplash actor recently spoke to ComicBook about how his gym photo went viral years ago, sharing:

There you have it. It sounds like Simmons' fitness journey didn't actually have all that much to do with his small but memorable role in Justice League. Instead, he was trying bulk back up after losing weight for another role. But that didn't stop the internet from exploding when the actor's biceps arrived online. 

Justice League was a highly anticipated upcoming DC movie ahead of its release. And a such, fans were trying to use any images or set photos as clues about what the blockbuster might include. Some moviegoers thought that Simmons getting ripped meant Gordon would get some action sequences, but that didn't happen. Later in his same interview, Simmons spoke about just wanting to look good for his wife, before the image of him pumping iron broke the internet. In his words:

And just like that, the truth comes out. Still, J.K. Simmons' biceps will live forever online, and in the hearts of DC fans who wanted to see him kick ass in Justice League. 

Unfortunately, it's unclear if we'll ever see him back as Gordon on the big screen again. It doesn't look like Batgirl will ever get released, and DC's new co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are crafting a brand new shared universe from scratch. We'll just have to wait and see which actor lands the role of Batman's biggest ally in Gotham.

The DCU begins with Superman on July 11th, 2025. While we wait, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks,” the 1942 oil painting depicting loneliness in the big city, is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and parodied pieces of American art of the past century. Over the years, it’s been referenced on The Simpsons, inspired the nearly equally as iconic “Boulevard of Broken Dreams" painting, and even inspired a 2013 Sherlock promo image. But what is it about this simple, yet extremely evocative piece of art that has made it such a big part of pop culture over the past 80 years?

I recently had a conversation with J.K. Simmons, who provides the voice of the famed artist in the PBS documentary American Masters - HOPPER: An American Love Story, and when I asked the Academy Award-winning actor why he felt “Nighthawks” has long been one of the most parodied pieces of American art, he had this to say:

Over the decades, great sci-fi movies like Blade Runner, hilarious family comedies like the Night at the Museum franchise, and comics ranging from The Adventures of Tintin to Peanuts have all drawn from the starkness and depth of the iconic painting, which is something Simmons appreciated about Hopper’s work, stating: 

After spending close to half an hour speaking with J.K. Simmons, it became clear that he had a great appreciation for the prolific artist at the center of Hopper: An American Love Story. Throughout our conversation, the ripped Red One star commented on being moved by the paintings, as well as the story of the painter’s relationship with wife Josephine Nivison Hopper (voiced by The Gilded Age star Christine Baranski), who could best be described as his manager, partner and biggest supporter.

The documentary, which premiered on the 2024 TV schedule in January, and is currently streaming on the PBS App, does a tremendous job of diving not only into Hopper’s art but also into the partnership he formed with Josephine, one that resulted in the reclusive man of few words becoming an American icon. Hopper: An American Love Story very much dives into the notion that “behind every great man is a greater woman.”

Whether you’re a fan of Edward Hopper, only familiar with “Nighthawks,” or have somehow never heard of the artist or seen his work, Hopper: An American Love Story has something for everyone, as it dives into the man, the myth, and those iconic paintings, drawings, and etchings that made Hopper into an American legend. 

The long wait for Invincible's return is finally over, and given what we know about Season 2 of the superhero comic book adaptation, it'll be well worth the wait. The new episodes aren't the only thing that fans can look forward to, however, as November 8th will officially mark Omni-Man's arrival in the video game Mortal Kombat 1. The ultra-powered villain feels like a natural fit for the franchise, which is proven in full through the video below, which reveals two of Season 1's most brutal moments are part of the character's moveset. Let's just say it's a good thing Mark isn't one of the other playable characters.

Fair warning to those who have yet to watch Invincible Season 1 with their Amazon Prime subscription: there are some mild spoilers ahead. That's thanks largely to the Mortal Kombat team, who incorporated two key moments from the show into Omni-Man's Fatal Blow and his Fatality. Take a look below at the latest video of the character in action and witness the true power of a Viltrumite: 

While there's still hope an Invincible movie could happen alongside the Amazon series, this may be the next best thing to seeing him in live-action. Seeing Omni-Man in this kind of 3D animation absolutely brutalizing opponents is as incredible as I assumed it would be, and those knuckle-crunching callbacks to Season 1 are the icing on the cake. I expected to see the face-smashing scene worked into the Fatal Blows, as it's the most Mortal Kombat moment that Omni-Man unleashed on his son Mark Grayson. 

What took me by surprise, though, was the fact that Omni-Man's Fatality is the horrifying subway scene, which is still burned into my memory. As seen in the video above, the villain holds his feeble opponent up as a speeding subway train speeds up and splits around them, with Liu Kang's body (in this case) used to destroy the train and kill everyone inside of it. It's certainly enough to kill any non-Grayson characters in Mortal Kombat 1, as well as being a horrifying moment for fans to re-witness in a completely new way. 

As brutal as this Mortal Kombat 1 Fatality is, it's even worse in Invincible. Mark doesn't take nearly as much physical damage from the subway due to his half-Viltrumite genes from his father. But the psychological damage from seeing people ripped apart while he's powerless to help them did quite a number on the hero, and was absolutely sickening to watch. I can't imagine any of Omni-Man's MK1 opponents will be so thoughtful about the carnage.

Omni-Man is one of the baddest dudes on the Mortal Kombat 1 roster, though we'll see if he holds that title in Invincible Season 2. The comic series has plenty of baddies to take on, though who knows how much of that will make it into the adapted series. Creator Robert Kirkman has an exciting plan for how to adapt the rest of the comic, but to say it's fluid on what will or won't make it in feels like an understatement. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what's coming and kick back and enjoy the return of one of Prime's best original shows. 

Invincible Season 2 Part 1 releases new episodes every Friday through November 24th on Prime Video, and Part 2 will pick up in early 2024. Prepare for all sorts of superhero awesomeness, and check out the Atom Eve spinoff episode currently available right now. 

There have been countless film versions of Santa Claus. From the loveable grandfather figure of Richard Attenborough's Santa in Miracle on 34th Street to the reluctant put-upon and wise-cracking toy executive Scott Calvin in the Tim Allen-led Santa Clause franchise (now a Disney+ limited series), there is no shortage of different interpretations of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas in movies. In recent years, the in-vogue depiction seems to be of a tough, ass-kicking Santa, like the one depicted in this year's holiday season beatings delivering Violent Night. Well, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson just teased the next action movie version of Father Christmas, and a ripped J.K Simmons is playing him. 

The Rock knows how to use his social media to get fans excited about his upcoming projects. This is precisely what the actor did when he shared images on his Instagram of him and Simmons on the set of their forthcoming Christmas action-adventure movie, Red One. The photos show how jacked the 67-year-old J. Jonah Jameson actor has gotten for his take on Kris Kringle. The first image shows a very stern and concerned-looking Santa, and the other two are a bit more laid back while giving us a look at just how strong this take on the present-giving head elf is. 

We should not expect rosy cheeks or a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly from this Santa. 

It was reported at the beginning of the year that Red One would star Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans–who was the first to share images of the two in costume and on set for their holiday-themed outing. 

Red One is set to debut on Prime video in 2023. But beyond that, there's not much that we know about the movie. Johnson's producing partner Hiram Garcia has compared the film to Guardians of the Galaxy or Hobbs & Shaw and also described it as "a globe-trotting, four-quadrant action-adventure comedy, imagining a whole new universe to explore within the holiday genre." So it could be something of an action comedy and the beginning of a holiday film action series. The Christmas movie will also see Johnson reteaming with his Jumanji franchise director, Jake Kasdan. 

Red One will not be J.K. Simmons' first time playing Santa Claus. The actor provided the voice of Santa in the animated Netflix movie Klaus. Although Simmons' live-action Santa Claus looks to be a more intimidating take on the beloved character, maybe that's not so shocking because we have all seen the actor be intimidating even when he isn't ripped. Whiplash anyone? I still get tingles up my spine when I think of him asking whether Miles Teller is "rushing or dragging." 

Amazon doesn't have a specific 2023 release date set for Red One yet, but we'll pass that information along when it comes. In the meantime, look at the best Amazon movies streaming right now. Fans of J.K. Simmons might also be interested in our list of 10 great J.K. Simmons movies and shows and how you can watch them.

Following his long-awaited debut as Black Adam in the DC Extended Universe, Dwayne Johnson is in the midst of leaving his mark on the holiday season the best way he knows how: by kicking ass. Not in real life, mind you; The Rock has a Christmas action movie coming up called Red One, and earlier this week, we got our first look at him and Chris Evans in the 2023 film release. Now Johnson has revealed who will be playing Santa Claus in Red One: J.K. Simmons.

Although J.K. Simmons’ involvement in Red One was first reported by Deadline earlier this week, no details were revealed about his role at the time. Well, it didn’t take long for that mystery to be solved, as Dwayne Johnson shared two pictures on Instagram of him next to Simmons dressed as the jolly bearded man in red on the Red One set. Check them out!

Now that Red One has begun filming, the curtain’s started to be pulled back a bit on what we can expect from this action movie that Amazon Prime Video subscribers will be able to stream. Chris Evans shared that his and Dwayne Johnson’s characters are respectively named Jack O’Malley and Callum Drift, and now we know that Red One does indeed bring Santa Claus into the proceedings. How does Callum cross paths with the toymaker who travels around the world once a year to deliver his wares to children? We’ll have to wait until late 2023 to learn the answer, but it sounds like Johnson and Simmons are having a blast working together so far. 

Interestingly enough, Red One will be J.K. Simmons’ second time performing Santa Claus, the first being in the animated Netflix movie Klaus. Simmons as a live-action Santa Claus doesn’t cut the same kind of figure we’re used to seeing from this beloved character, but maybe that’s because we’ll see him beating up bad guys alongside Callum Drift in Red One. After all, we’ve seen how ripped Simmons got when he was playing Commissioner Gordon in Justice League, so if he got into similar shape for Red One, why not pull him into a few action scenes?

Red One’s cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, who will reportedly be by J.K. Simmons’ side as Mrs. Claus, as well as Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Liu, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Nick Kroll and Kristofer Hivju in undisclosed roles. Behind the scenes, Dwayne Johnson has regrouped with some familiar collaborators, with Jake Kasdan, who helmed the two most recent Jumanji movies, sitting in the director’s chair, and Chris Morgan, who wrote six of the main Fast & Furious movies and the Hobbs & Shaw spinoff, penning the script. Kasdan and Morgan are also attached as producers alongside Johnson, Hiram Garcia (who came up with Red One’s story), Dany Garcia and Melvin Mar.

Amazon doesn’t have a specific 2023 release date set for Red One yet, but we’ll pass that information along when it comes in, along with any other notable updates on how the movie is coming along. In the meantime, take a look at the best Amazon movies that can be streamed right now.

At long last, Chip ’n Dale, the fearless co-founders and leaders of the Rescue Rangers are back together, and in action, together again for another set of adventures in the new Disney+ movie bearing their name. The fun-filled and reference-heavy animated/live-action hybrid in the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Tom and Jerry is finally streaming on the popular platform, meaning everyone with a Disney+ subscription can give the new film a spin. 

But, after doing so, you may be wondering exactly where you have seen and heard the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast before. Worry not, because we are about to break down all the stars of the highly-anticipated project, starting with the two leads, former Saturday Night Live greats John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg.

John Mulaney (Chip)

Starting off, we have John Mulaney who appears in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as the voice of Chip, the fearless leader and co-founder of the Rescue Rangers, and the member who didn’t elect to be converted to CGI.

Mulaney, who long served as a writer on Saturday Night Live before becoming one of the best guest hosts of all-time with his hilarious and catchy musical skits, has etched out a place for himself as one of the greatest modern stand-up comedians with specials like The Comeback Kid and John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City. 

On top of that, Mulaney has appeared on shows like Documentary Now!, Kroll Show, Big Mouth, and even had his own short-lived sitcom simply titled, Mulaney. And let’s not forget his hilarious portrayal of Peter Porker, a.k.a. Spider-Ham, in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and various short films in the franchise.

Andy Samberg (Dale)

Next up is Andy Samberg, who provides the voice of Dale, the more happy-go-lucky and free-flowing co-founder of the Rescue Rangers who has undergone a procedure to transform himself from traditional animation to CGI prior to the events of Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Just like his co-star, Samberg first made a name for himself as one of the funniest members of the Saturday Night Live cast of all time, with memorable skits like “Lazy Sunday,” “I’m on a Boat,” and various others, including an iconic digital short featuring Justin Timberlake. Since then, Samberg has found success on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Never Have I Ever.

Over the course of his career, Samberg has also found success in cinema, with a major role in the Hotel Transylvania animated franchise, the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies, and the 2020 time-loop romantic comedy, Palm Springs. And let’s not forget his work with his comedy music group The Lonely Island (who were responsible for some of those great SNL shorts).

KiKi Layne (Ellie)

Stepping in as one of the human roles in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is KiKi Layne, who portrays a rookie police detective (and Rescue Rangers superfan) named Ellie in the new Disney+ streaming exclusive.

Ever since giving her outstanding portrayal of Tish Rivers in Barry Jenkins’ 2018 drama, If Beale Street Could Talk, Layne has been one of young Hollywood’s brightest stars. In the years following her breakout role, Layne has given incredible performances in movies like Native Son, Captive State, The Old Guard, and Coming 2 America.

Will Arnett (Sweet Pete)

Taking on the role of Sweet Pete, a down-on-his-luck former Disney star who has turned to a life of crime in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, is Will Arnett, whose character makes a vow to bring his former employer down to Earth.

Arnett, who has appeared in live-action movies like Let’s Go to Prison, Semi-Pro, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and shows like Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Murderville, is perhaps best known for his long list of voice-over credits on the silver screen and small screen alike. Over the years, Arnett has voiced characters in The Lego Movie (and its various sequels and spinoffs), The Nut Job franchise, Despicable Me, and most recently, Rumble, as well as shows like King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and most importantly Bo-Jack Horseman, which saw him portray the titular character in the decorated Netflix animated series.

Eric Bana (Monterey Jack)

Stepping in to voice Chip ’n Dale’s former partner-in-crime, Monterey Jack, in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Eric Bana, who brings new life to the iconic cheese-obsessed Australian mouse once voiced by Peter Cullen.

Although he has spent most of his career in live-action roles, Bana has provided his voice for a few animated film projects over the years, including Finding Nemo, Mary and Max, and Back to the Outback. However, Bana is best remembered for performances in movies like Munich, Hanna, Star Trek, The Other Boleyn Girl, Troy, and Ang Lee’s 2003 Marvel movie, Hulk, which saw him portray Bruce Banner and his supersized alter-ego. Bana has also appeared on a number of shows in his native Australia like Full Frontal, Something in the Air, and The Eric Bana Show Live.

Dennis Haysbert (Zipper)

Providing the voice for Zipper, the housefly and trusty member of the original Rescue Rangers in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Dennis Haysbert.

Although younger members of the audience will recognize Haysbert’s voice from his portrayal of King Grayskull on Masters of the Universe: Revelation or from those Allstate insurance commercials, others will remember the actor from his roles in movies like Major League, Waiting to Exhale, and Heat, or his various shows that include Now and Again, The Unit, or 24, a performance that earned the actor a number of nominations for his portrayal of President Donald Palmer throughout the show’s run.

Keegan-Michael Key (Bjornson The Cheesemonger)

Providing the voice for the puppet character Bjornson the Cheesemonger on the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Keegan-Michael Key.

One of the most recognizable voices featured in the new Disney+ movie, Key is perhaps best known for his longtime sketch comedy program, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele. In the years following the Comedy Central show’s conclusion, Key has found success with an assortment of animated series including BoJack Horseman, SuperMansion, Archer, and Green Eggs and Ham. He has also shown up in movies like the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Toy Story 4, The Prom, and most recently, as a member of The Bubble cast.

Tress MacNeille (Gadget)

Taking on the role of Gadget in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Tress MacNeille, who originally voiced the character during its original run, as well as voicing Chip during that same stretch.

Over the years, MacNeille has consistently been one of the hardest-working voice actors in the entertainment industry, working on shows like The Simpsons, Rugrats, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, and Futurama. If you are a fan of an animated series released anywhere between 1980 and now, chances are you’ve heard MacNeille’s voice more than a few times. And, it’s not just TV, as MacNeille has provided her voice for some of the most iconic Studio Ghibli films, like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro.

Seth Rogen (Bob The Warrior Viking)

Seth Rogen appears in Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers as Bob the Warrior Viking, the awkwardly-animated CGI character featured in the wacky trailer.

Since breaking out as a multi-talented star in the early part of the 21st century, Rogen has become one of the most entertaining names in Hollywood with a variety of great roles in movies like Knocked Up, Superbad (which he co-wrote), Steve Jobs, 50/50, and other unforgettable movies. He is also no stranger to voice roles, as he appeared in animated movies like The Lion King and the Kung Fu Panda franchise. He is set to provide the voice of Donkey Kong in the upcoming Mario movie.

J.K. Simmons (Captain Putty)

Taking on the role of the claymation police officer named Captain Putty in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is J.K. Simmons, who knows a thing or two about playing iconic cops.

Over the years, Simmons has been in movies like the Spider-Man franchise, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Palm Springs, Juno, and Whiplash, which earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and numerous other accolades. His TV work includes roles on shows like Oz, Law and Order, The Closer, and BoJack Horseman.

Da’Vone McDonald (Jimmy The Polar Bear)

Taking on the role of Jimmy the Polar Bear in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Da’Vone McDonald.

Throughout his career, McDonald has appeared in movies like Funny People, Drillbit Taylor, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as well as shows like Drunk History, The PET Squad Files, and Dads.

Flula Borg (DJ Herzogenaurach)

And, rounding out the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Flula Borg, who shows up as DJ Herzogenaurach.

An accomplished actor, comedian, and musician, Borg has appeared on shows like Mr. Mayor, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, and Tangled: The Series throughout his career, as well as in movies like Ferdinand, Pitch Perfect 2, and a little movie called The Suicide Squad.

This is just a portion of the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as there are all sorts of cameos and other surprises in the new Disney+ streaming movie.

2021 wasn't quite the "back to normal" year at the movies that we were all hoping it would be, but it was certainly a step in the right direction. If nothing else, most of the 2022 Oscar nominees were at the very least released in actual movie theaters. And 2021 was a solid year for movies with strong contenders expected to do well tonight including The Power of the Dog, West Side Story and Dune.

While this year's Academy Awards broadcast will be dealing with some degree of controversy following the decision to not give out all the Oscars live, it should nonetheless be an interesting show. Follow along with us live as we update the list below as the awards are given out.

Best Picture

• Belfast
• CODA
• Don't Look Up
• Drive My Car
• Dune
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

Best Directing

• Belfast, Kenneth Branagh
• Drive My Car, Ryusuke Hamaguchi
• Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson
• The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion
• West Side Story, Steven Spielberg

Best Actress In A Leading Role

• Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
• Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
• Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
• Kristen Stewart, Spencer

Best Actor In A Leading Role

• Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
• Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
• Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick... BOOM!
• Will Smith, King Richard
• Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Best Actress In A Supporting Role

• Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
• Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
• Judi Dench, Belfast
• Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
• Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

Best Actor In A Supporting Role

• Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
• Troy Kotsur, CODA
• Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
• J.K Simmons, Being the Ricardos
• Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

• Belfast
• Don't Look Up
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• The Worst Person in the World

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• CODA
• Drive My Car
• Dune
• The Lost Daughter
• The Power of the Dog

Best Animated Feature Film

• Encanto
• Flee
• Luca
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines
• Raya and the Last Dragon

Best International Feature Film

• Drive My Car, Japan
• Flee, Denmark
• The Hand of God, Italy
• Lunana: A Yakin the Classroom, Bhutan
• The Worst Person in the World, Norway

Best Documentary (Feature)

• Ascension
• Attica
• Flee
• Summer of Soul(...Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
• Writing With Fire

Best Production Design

• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• West Side Story

Best Cinematography

• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• West Side Story

Best Costume Design

• Cruella
• Cyrano
• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• West Side Story

Best Film Editing

• Don't Look Up
• Dune
• King Richard
• The Power of the Dog
• Tick, Tick...BOOM!

Best Makeup And Hairstyling

• Coming 2 America
• Cruella
• Dune
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• House of Gucci

Best Music (Original Score)

• Don't Look Up
• Dune
• Encanto
• Parallel Mothers
• The Power of the Dog

Best Music (Original Song)

• "Be Alive," King Richard
• "Dos Oruguitas," Encanto
• "Down To Joy," Belfast
• "No Time to Die," No Time to Die
• "Somehow You Do," Four Good Days 

Best Sound

• Belfast
• Dune
• No Time to Die
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

Best Visual Effects

• Dune
• Free Guy
• No Time To Die
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home

Best Short Film (Animated)

• Affairs of the Heart
• Bestia
• Boxballet
• Robin Robin
• The Windshield Wiper

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

• Audible
• Lead Me Home
• The Queen of Basketball
• Three Songs For Benazir
• When We Were Bullies

Best Short Film (Live Action)

• Ala Kachuu - Take And Run
• The Dress
• The Long Goodbye
• On My Mind
• Please Hold

Did your favorite film of 2021 take home an Oscar?

There is no denying the fact that J.K. Simmons is one of the greatest actors alive today and there’s a case to made for him being one of the best of all time (as well as the busiest). With iconic performances in movies like Whiplash, Being the Ricardos, and the best Spider-Man movies, it’s safe to say his face (like his voice) is instantly recognizable and has the ability to draw you in. And then there are shows like Oz, where he managed to make one of the most detestable characters of all time into one of the most interesting.

But, deciding on a definitive list of the best J.K. Simmons movies and TV shows is no easy task — not because there are a lack of appropriate titles, but instead because there are just so many. So many, in fact, including them all here just wasn’t possible. Fear not, though, because I’ve put together a rundown of 10 of his great performances on streaming that you just have to check out.

Spider-Man (2002)

After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is transformed into a web-slinging superhero protecting the streets and citizens of New York City. While most are supportive of the Web-Head, one particular daily newspaper editor sees him as nothing more than a menace, as well as an easy way to increase his daily circulation, in Spider-Man.

J.K. Simmons was born to play Daily Bugle chief J. Jonah Jameson in the live-action Spider-Man movies, and it’s impossible to imagine anyone else taking on the role of the high-strung newsman with a grudge against the friendly neighborhood superhero. The hair, the attitude, the boisterous voice, it’s all there. And his sudden appearance in the Spider-Man: Far From Home end credits scene was one of the biggest pops in a theater in a very long time.

Rent/Buy Spider-Man on Amazon.
Buy Spider-Man on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Whiplash (2014)

Young and talented jazz drummer Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) thinks he’s one of the best when enrolls at the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory in New York City, but he’s in for a reality check after falling under the direction of the intimidating Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a ruthless perfectionist who pushes his new student to their breaking point — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Damien Chazelle’s masterful Whiplash features one of the most interesting performances of J.K. Simmons career, one that is both passionate and cruel throughout the movie about how far someone will go in order to be great. The psychological games his character plays with his students are borderline abusive, but it’s still hard to dislike the charismatic and diabolical instructor. Oh, and he won a slew of awards, including an Oscar and Golden Globe for this daunting performance.

Stream Whiplash on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Whiplash on Amazon.
Buy Whiplash on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Being The Ricardos (2021)

Aaron Sorkin’s 2021 biographical drama, Being the Ricardos, follows the cast of the legendary sitcom I l Love Lucy as they deal with the stresses of an intense production schedule, in-fighting on set, and a myriad of issues in their personal lives, all while still having to put on a happy face in front of millions of viewers every week.

J.K. Simmons received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of William Frawley, one of the co-leads of the beloved TV classic, and brings with him his uncanny ability to lose himself to the role. Sometimes it’s easy to forget it is Simmons playing the legendary TV actor and not some kind of reincarnation of the former Broadway star.

Stream Being the Ricardos on Amazon.

Oz (1997 - 2003)

One of the shows your parents warned you about in the ’90s, the HBO drama Oz spent six seasons following the lives of the various inmates and prison staff at the Oswald State Penitentiary (later changed to Oswald State Correctional Facility), with a major focus on those living in “Emerald City,” an experimental unit that has an opposite effect than its creator’s intentions.

Let me get this out of the way — J.K. Simmons’ character, Vernon Schillinger, is an irredeemable white supremacist who is undoubtedly one of the show’s most ruthless characters and one that makes his fellow inmates’ lives hell, especially Lee Tergesen’s Tobias Beecher. That being said, he is also one of the best-written characters in the history of TV and Simmons manages to add multiple dimensions to the Aryan Brotherhood leader in all six seasons. 

Stream Oz on HBO Max.
Buy Oz on Amazon.
Buy Oz on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Thank You For Smoking (2005)

Jason Reitman’s satirical comedy, Thank You for Smoking, which was based on Christopher Buckley’s novel of the same name, follows Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), a charismatic and morally bankrupt lobbyist for Big Tobacco who tries defeat a massive anti-smoking campaign while also proving to his young son that he is not a bad person.

One of the things that makes Thank You for Smoking such a great (yet often forgotten) movie is its talented cast, which also includes Katie Holmes, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, and none other than J.K. Simmons, who plays Nick’s over-the-top boss, B.R. Although he’s only in the movie for a few scenes, Simmons squeezes every second out of that time to give a commanding, and hilarious, take on a Big Tobacco executive who’ll do anything to sell smokes.

Stream Thank You For Smoking on Starz.
Rent/Buy Thank You For Smoking on Amazon.
Buy Thank You For Smoking on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Juno (2007)

The 2007 Academy Award-winning coming-of-age comedy, Juno, follows a teenage girl (Elliot Page) who decides to give her unborn baby up for adoption after becoming pregnant during high school. This beautiful, funny, and at times heartbreaking movie touches on a number of issues, including love, commitment, and the fleeting nature of adolescence.

J.K. Simmons portrays Juno’s caring and compassionate father, Mac MacGuff, who stands by his daughter and her decisions throughout the movie with nothing but love and devotion to her, no matter what she decides to do with the baby. This is one of those roles that helps you remember that Simmons is more than an angry man who yells about Spider-Man, but also a gentle soul.

Stream Juno on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Juno on Amazon.
Buy Juno on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Up In The Air (2009)

Nominated for six Academy Awards, Jason Reitman’s 2009 comedy-drama, Up in the Air, centers on Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a man whose job is to travel across the country and terminate people from various companies, agencies, and firms. But in the process of training a new hire, played by Anna Kendrick, the once sure-of-himself professional downsizer begins to see the world, and his job, a bit differently.

J.K. Simmons only appears briefly in Up in the Air as Bob, a man on the receiving end of one of Ryan’s firings, but like a lot of other Jason Reitman movies, Simmons makes the most of what little time he gets here. In a scene no longer than a few minutes, Simmons goes through an entire range of emotions from fear to anger and then finally to hope as he contemplates his future.

Stream Up in the Air on AMC+ (Amazon Add-On).
Rent/Buy Up in the Air on Amazon.
Buy Up in the Air on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Klaus (2019)

Sergio Pablos’ enchanting animated Christmas movie, Klaus, centers on a postman named Jesper Johansen (Jason Schwartzman) as he befriends a reclusive toymaker (J.K. Simmons) in hopes that they can bring much-needed happiness to his quiet yet melancholic village. 

One of the best animated movies on Netflix, and one that was nominated for an Oscar following its release, this beautiful origin story of Santa Claus is made all the better with J.K. Simmons’ take on the character. His transformation from an imposing, closed-off giant of a man into a symbol of hope and joy is something else.

Stream Klaus on Netflix.

Palm Springs (2020)

The 2020 Hulu romantic comedy, Palm Springs, follows Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti), two wedding guests who find themselves stuck in a time loop at Sarah’s sister’s wedding. Similar to other great time loop movies, the pair are forced to get to the bottom of the mystery and escape the trap, even if it means costing them everything.

J.K. Simmons shows up as Roy Schlieffen, a man who comes up with inventive ways to torture and kill Nyles for getting him trapped in the endless time loop. Simmons’ character’s journey in Palm Springs is honestly one of the best of the movie and shows off the actor’s versatility, especially near the end.

Stream Palm Springs on Hulu.

The Closer (2005 - 2010)

For seven seasons, the critically-acclaimed crime procedural, The Closer, centered on LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) as she used her CIA training and unique set of skills to solve dozens of cases no one else could solve.

J.K. Simmons portrayed LAPD Assistant Police Chief Will Pope for the entire run of The Closer and gave one of the best, and most complicated, performances of the series. Having previously been in a relationship with Brenda Leigh Johnson, Simmons’ character was often still hung up on their past and wouldn’t let certain aspects of it go, making for an intense performance on his part.

Stream The Closer on HBO Max.
Buy The Closer on Amazon.

This is just barely scratching the surface of what J.K. Simmons has given audiences over the years, as the veteran actor has taken on roles in movies like La La Land, Zack Snyder's Justice League, and For Love of the Game, to name only a few. And, with more movies coming out, like Batgirl, on the 2022 new movies schedule, expect to see much more of Simmons for years to come. 

The DC Extended Universe is always growing, and Warner Bros. is about to break new ground with a few upcoming DC movies being produced specifically for streaming. Leslie Grace’s Batgirl movie is the first of these, and anticipation for the mysterious comic book flick has been growing partly thanks to its killer cast. And actor J.K. Simmons has explained why he was excited to play Commissioner Gordon outside of his “tiny” role in Justice League.

Comic book fans were thrilled when J.K. Simmons was announced as the DCEU’s James Gordon, making his debut in (both versions of) Justice League. But when the sequels and Ben Affleck’s Batman movie were scrapped, it seemed like this tenure as the GCPD officer was cut short. Luckily he’s back for Batgirl, explaining the difference in his character the second time around during an interview with Aframe. As the Oscar winner put it,

Well, there you have it. J.K. Simmons did have very limited screen time during Justice League, even after the role was expanded in the Snyder Cut. And now that he’s starring in Batgirl, the Being the Ricardos actor seems psyched about getting to dig deeper into who James Gordon is as a person. And that obviously includes his relationship to daughter Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl. 

J.K. Simmons’ comments to Aframe come as we’re gearing up for the annual Academy Awards. He’s already got an Oscar for his work on Whiplash, and was able to chat about his highly anticipated role in the Batgirl movie. It looks like we’ll be getting a much more personal side to James Gordon this time around, in addition to his work fighting crime in Gotham City.

Of course, J.K. Simmons isn’t the only iconic actor who has joined the cast of the Batgirl movie. Fans are also delighted to learn that Michael Keaton would be playing Batman, presumably training Leslie Grace’s title character in the ways of superheroics. Additionally, Brendan Fraser will continue his current hot streak (literally) by playing the villainous Firefly.

It should be interesting to see how well Batgirl performs on HBO Max, and if the characters get to have more significant roles in the greater DC Extended Universe. The streaming project marks the first time a protegee of Batman’s will actually appear in the shared universe (sorry to that dead Robin), and it would be awesome to see the Bat-family expanded. 

Batgirl is currently expected to arrive on HBO Max sometime in 2022, although it doesn’t have a release date. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The DC Extended Universe is a tricky place, known for keeping fans on our collective toes. The universe is continuing to expand through upcoming DC movies on both the silver and small screen, with the upcoming Batgirl flick in the latter category. J.K. Simmons is returning to the DCEU in the movie, and is throwing a ton of praise at Batgirl’s pair of directors. Now bring on James Gordon!

Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons made his DCEU debut in Justice League, a role that was eventually expanded in the Snyder Cut. His James Gordon got limited but iconic screen time, which is why the fans were so thrilled when it was revealed he was returning for Batgirl. While the streaming movie doesn’t have a release date just yet, Simmons has nothing but good things to say about filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. He recently spoke to the project, saying:

Talk about high praise. J.K. Simmons has worked with a number of prolific directors during his long career, and it sounds like Batgirl’s Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah still managed to make a great first impression. We’ll just have to wait and see how their collaboration ultimately paid off when the DC flick starring Leslie Grace finally arrives on HBO Max.

J.K. Simmons spoke about the directors of Batgirl during an interview with Discussing Film about his role in Awards Season favorite drama Being the Ricardos. Eventually the conversation turned to his ongoing role in the DCEU, and upcoming second appearance as Gotham City’s own James Gordon. And it sounds like he had a great collaboration with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah on the mysterious set.

The Batgirl movie has some pressure on it, as it’s marking a few firsts for the DC Extended Universe. On top of being the first movie specifically shot for a HBO Max release, it’ll also be the first time that a Batman protegee is introduced to the shared universe. But rather than featuring Ben Affleck, the Dark Knight will actually be Michael Keaton’s version. Exactly how this works out is a mystery, but it presumably has a connection to The Flash movie.

Batgirl doesn’t have a release date yet, but was previously expected to arrive sometime on HBO Max. Although The Flash’s recent delay might put a wrench in those plans. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The comic book genre has been dominating the film world for years now, but various cinematic universes have been making bold narrative choices thanks to the multiverse. J.K. Simmons has a presence in both the MCU and DCEU, due to his roles as J. Jonah Jameson and James Gordon respectively. And as such, the Oscar-winning actor has a funny take on the multiverse. Let’s hear him out.

Audiences were delighted when J.K. Simmons reprised his role from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise, bringing a different version of J. Jonah Jameson to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Add in playing James Gordon in Batgirl, and the Whiplash actor is keeping super busy. But these role don’t mean that he knows how to keep track of what’s happening in the multiverse, as he recently shared:

Same, though. The multiverse can be a confusing place for even the most hardcore fan, so who can blame J.K. Simmons from getting things mixed up? After all he’s in two different shared universes, and there are countless superhero franchises making their way to theaters. Besides, he’s probably going to give a killer performance regardless.

J.K. Simmons’ comments to Variety come from the red carpet at the Critic’s Choice Awards. He was asked about his various superhero roles, and the confusing genre which they reside in. While fans can’t wait to see more of his characters James Gordon and J. Jonah Jameson, that doesn’t mean that he can keep track of all the multiversal action. And really, who could blame him?

J. Jonah Jameson most recently appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was a wild crossover event featuring villains and heroes from the previous two franchises. J.K. Simmons previously admitted he wasn’t sure what was going on in the wild plot, and instead focused on his job as an actor. The performance was brief but impactful, and he nailed bringing Jameson back to life. The multiverse is going to become even more integral to the shared universe thanks to Doctor Strange 2, so things could get more confusing for Simmons.

As for the DC side of things, J.K. Simmons famously appeared as James Gordon in Justice League– both version of the movie. The Snyder Cut isn’t technically cannon, while it looks like his role in the upcoming Batgirl movie is set in the main DCEU. Later in the same interview, Simmons jokes about not being able to keep track of situations like this, saying:

Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Rather than being bogged down about the specifics of the multiverse like the the hardcore fandom, J.K. Simmons simply focuses on the job at hand. Namely, giving a great performance in projects like Batgirl and Spider-Man: No Way Home. After all, he’s an actor not a comic book writer.

Doctor Strange 2 will hit theaters on May 6th, while Batgirl is expected to hit HBO Max sometime this year. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

After decades of being an integral character in Batman’s corner of DC Comics lore, not to mention one of pop culture’s most famous superheroines, the time has come for Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, to lead her own movie. Batgirl has been in development for the DC Extended Universe since 2017, but 2021 is when the project really started chugging along. Bad Boys for Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were tapped helm the movie that Birds of Prey’s Christina Dodson, and that was followed months later by casting announcements.

Batgirl is now filming, and while a release date hasn’t been set yet, it will be an HBO Max exclusive rather than play in theaters like the past DC movies. While we wait for official plot details, it’s worth going over who will make up Batgirl’s main cast, starring with the actress playing the title superheroine. 

Leslie Grace

Having already made a name for herself as a singer and songwriter, Leslie Grace made her film debut in 2021 playing Nina Rosario in the John Chu-directed film adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda-created musical In the Heights. Just a month after that movie came out, Grace was cast as Barbara Gordon in Batgirl, and by January 2022, we got our first look at the actress in her superhero costume. Grace’s version of Barbara spends her days working at the Gotham City Police Department, and while it’s unclear right now if Batgirl will depict how she becomes a crimefighter or if she’s already been at the crimefighting game for a bit, at least we she’s skilled at using one of Batman’s most popular intimidation tactics: dangling a criminal out of a window.

J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons briefly appeared in Justice League (both versions) as Commissioner James Gordon, but he didn’t share that much screen time with Ben Affleck’s Batman, and since The Flash is serving as the swan song for that version of the Caped Crusader (unless Ezra Miller knows something that we don’t), evidently we won’t see those two together again. Fortunately for those who liked Simmons’ Gordon performance, he’s back for Batgirl. Like his comic book counterpart, this version of Gordon is Barbara Gordon’s father, and while nothing is confirmed just yet, it stands to reason he’s not aware his daughter is a vigilante. It also looks like Batgirl will deliver a flashback featuring Gordon taking place when Barbara was still little.

Michael Keaton

Just because Ben Affleck is done playing Batman doesn’t mean the DCEU will be without that particular superhero going forward. Michael Keaton is donning the cape and cowl again for The Flash, and evidently the events of the Scarlet Speedster’s solo movie will result in Keaton’s version of Bruce Wayne being inserted into the DCEU, since it’s been confirmed he’ll appear in Batgirl. That being said, there’s no word yet on how much we’ll see of Keaton in this DC movie and if he’ll even appear in costume. It’s previously been reported that Keaton’s Bruce will serve “in a mentor capacity” in this superhero franchise, so instead of seeing Batman and Batgirl fight side by side, maybe we’ll just see the former give the latter some crimefighting pointers.

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser’s been on one hell of a run lately, from starring in Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move to getting to work with Martin Scorsese in Killers of the Flower Moon. Fraser also has DC experience under his belt playing Cliff Steele/Robotman in the HBO Max series Doom Patrol, but he’s not done leaving his mark on their corner of the superhero landscape. The actor will star in Batgirl as Garfield Lynns, a.k.a. Firefly, a longtime member of Batman’s rogues gallery who is obsessed with fire. We’ll have to wait and see if Firefly is causing trouble on his own during Batgirl or will be partnered with someone else (like perhaps Killer Moth, as those two teamed up in Batgirl: Year One), but either way, Fraser’s character will be turning the heat up on Barbara Gordon.

Ivory Aquino

Batgirl is taking a huge step with LGBTQ+ representation, as transgender actress Ivory Aquino, best known for the docudrama When We Rise, has been cast as Alysia Yeoh, Barbara Gordon’s best friend. Alysia was introduced during Gail Simone’s run on the Batgirl book during the New 52 era, becoming Barbara’s roommate when Barbara decided to move out of James Gordon’s home. After they became close, Alysia revealed to Barbara that she’s transgender, and now the character will get to shine in a film setting. As with J.K. Simmons’ Gordon, though, we don’t know yet if Aquino’s Alysia will know Barbara is Batgirl or is being kept in the dark.

Jacob Scipio

Batgirl marks Jaco Scipio’s second outing with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, having previously worked with the directors on Bad Boys for Life. Scipio’s credits also starred as Hatchet in 2019’s Without Remorse, and he’s starring alongside Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham in The Expendables 4. Unfortunately, as with everyone else on this list going forward, no official details about Scipio’s Batgirl character were included when his casting was reported. Is he a good guy or bad guy? Established character or someone original? For now, that’s a mystery.

Rebecca Front

Rebecca Front has appeared in a lot of British productions, most notably playing Nicola Murray in The Thick of It, and those who saw Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will recognize her as the therapist. As for guesses on who she could be playing in Batgirl, Front is around the right age to potentially be playing Barbara Gordon’s mother, who, in some stories, is depicted as having either divorced James Gordon or just walked out on her family. Maybe the Batgirl movie will show Leslie Grace’s Barbara reuniting with her mother, but let’s also not discount the decent chance that Front is simply playing a different older woman in the heroine’s life, like a neighbor or a fellow officer at the GCPD.

Corey Johnson

Corey Johnson is no stranger to comic book movies; in addition to having starred in 2004’s Hellboy, Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and Kingsman: The Secret Service, he’s also appearing in the Jared Leto-led Morbius. Now he’s lending his talents to Batgirl, and given how many authority figures he’s played in the past, it’s easy enough to imagine him as a policeman in the DC movie. That said, I’m also not willing to rule out Johnson playing a criminal connected to Firefly.

Ethan Kai

If Ethan Kai looks familiar, you’ve likely seen him playing Kasim Sebet in the British soap opera Emmerdale. Regarding his role in Batgirl, a set photo was taken of Kai and Leslie Grace holding hands. Now, when it comes to love interests, Barbara is most famous for being paired with Dick Grayson, a.k.a. the first Robin/Nightwing. So it makes sense why some people might think Kai is appearing as Dick in Batgirl, especially considering that a photo was taken of a mural for the movie showing Batman and Robin together. However, Murphy’s Multiverse shared a photo of a trailer belong to an actor playing someone only identified as “Jason.” This could mean Kai is actually playing Jason Bard, a GCPD police officer who was romantically involved with Barbara in the comics.

Now you’re caught up on who’s appearing in Batgirl, but make sure to keep your eyes peeled here for any additions to the main cast. We’ll also be sure pass along when Batgirl’s official release date is announced as part of our coverage on upcoming DC movies.  

This morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the 2022 Oscar nominations, and Andrew Garfield was among the five talents picked in the Best Actor category. No, he didn’t get a nomination for his incredible long-game lie about returning to play Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home (even though that’d be totally deserved). Garfield is being recognized for portraying Rent playwright Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick… Boom!, and funny enough, a bunch of other former Spider-Man actors also picked up Oscar nominations this year alongside him. 

Following the Tuesday morning announcement that Andrew Garfield is among a crop of great actors from Spider-Man’s past to be recognized by the Academy, the actor shared his reaction. In his words to Entertainment Weekly: 

Andrew Garfield and his Spider-Man: No Way Home co-star Benedict Cumberbatch were nominated in the same Best Actor category ahead of this year’s Oscars. Cumberbatch is being recognized for his role in The Power of the Dog with , and the other competitors include Javier Bardem for Being the Ricardos, Will Smith for King Richard and Denzel Washington for The Tragedy of Macbeth. 

Additionally, J.K. Simmons, who reprised the role of J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: No Way Home with Garfield and Cumberbatch, is also in the running for an Oscar this year for the Best Supporting Actor category for Being the Ricardos. Also, Kirsten Dunst, who played Mary Jane Watson in the original Spider-Man trilogy, could win Best Actress for her performance in The Power of the Dog. 

It's also worth mentioning Spider-Man: No Way Home’s nomination for Best Visual Effects. Disney was campaigning for the latest Spider-Man movie to nab more Oscar nods, including Best Picture, which it was snubbed for, by the measure of some cinephiles. Ahead of the nominations being released, Tom Holland made a valid point that he is satisfied with the incredible reception the movie has received from the general public, Oscar or not. 

Spider-Man: No Way Home was one of the most well-loved movies of 2021 across the board, including a $1.7 billion box office haul, making many believe it deserved a shot at Best Picture. The only time Marvel has been recognized in its highest category of the night was for Black Panther back in 2019. 

Although Spider-Man: No Way Home is not among the ten Best Picture nominees, it’s great to see Andrew Garfield nominated for his incredible performance in Tick, Tick… Boom!. The actor learned how to sing for the role and copy the mannerisms of Jonathan Larson. We’ll be rooting for him and his Spider-Man co-stars for their projects outside Marvel on Hollywood’s biggest night, with the 94th Academy Awards airing Sunday, March 27 on ABC. 

With Oscar nominations right around the corner, CinemaBlend is taking a look at which films and performances are likely to be in contention for nominations. Let’s look at a the Supporting Actor race. 

Locked In

Kodi Smit-McPhee has surprisingly emerged as a potential winner in the category for his role in The Power of the Dog, with over 20 critics awards and a Golden Globe win now to his name. McPhee’s skilled, understated performance doesn’t fit the typical mold of an Oscar winner, but strong praise for the film as a whole will carry him far. 

The other near-lock in this category is Troy Kotsur for his heartwarming performance in CODA. Earlier in the year, many speculated that the actor would be too much of an unknown to snag a nomination. Now, him and McPhee are the only actors with Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and SAG nominations. He’s likely to be the second deaf actor ever nominated for an Academy Award, 35 years after his co-star Marlee Matlin got her lead actress nomination, and win, for Children of a Lesser God.

Likely Bets

What to do about the Belfast boys? Jamie Dornan and Ciaran Hinds were both widely expected to share the category in a similar fashion to Kaluuya and Stanfield in last year’s Judas and the Black Messiah, DeNiro and Pacino in The Irishman, and Rockwell and Harrelson in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. However, SAG threw an unexpected curveball by nominating neither performer. The debacle recalls that of 2015’s Spotlight, where both Keaton and Ruffalo missed SAG, despite both securing Critics Choice nominations. Only Ruffalo went onto an Oscar nomination. This town may not be big enough for the two, and if one performer is to triumph over the other, it’ll likely be Hinds, who has more traction from critics awards. Dornan may still be overcoming his Fifty Shades reputation whereas Hinds is a long under-appreciated veteran character actor.

Then there’s Jared Leto for House of Gucci who, despite receiving mixed reactions from critics, has remained in the conversation due to the sheer volume of his performance. It’s capital A acting at its… most. SAG and Critics Choice voters had no problem with that.

Bradley Cooper’s extremely limited screen-time in Licorice Pizza seemed for a while like it would prevent the Academy favorite from securing another nomination. The Screen Actors Guild disagreed, giving him a crucial nomination that has thrown him back into the conversation. It also helps that he is riding the wave of a Best Picture contender.

Dark Horses

Ben Affleck now has a SAG and Golden Globe nomination for his performance in The Tender Bar, though his role is really the only buzz coming out of that film. I feel his path recalls that of Bill Murray in On the Rocks, or Jared Leto in The Little Things last year. He has some key nominations, but I am doubtful that he’ll make it to the finish line. His absence from the BAFTA longlist confirms that suspicion for me. 

J.K. Simmons could benefit from Kidman’s strength in the Best Actress race for his role as William Frawley in Being the Ricardos, but he only has a Critics Choice nomination to his name so far. Mike Faist earned a BAFTA nomination but has missed pretty much everything else, despite being a major standout in West Side Story. The film is such a heavyweight, however, that we can’t count him out entirely. I could also see a world where Jesse Plemons rides The Power of the Dog’s momentum to a supporting actor nomination alongside McPhee.

Unfortunately, Robin de Jesús’s role in Tick, tick… Boom! doesn’t have much traction despite the film’s strength in Best Picture. Jeffrey Wright in The French Dispatch, Colman Domingo in Zola, and Jason Isaacs in Mass have picked up their share of critics nominations but there’s not much to indicate that they’ll show up at the Oscars. 

Currently, I’m predicting McPhee, Kotsur, Hinds, Leto, and Cooper for the nomination. Check back here at CinemaBlend for more category breakdowns.

It’s nearly been a year since Zack Snyder’s Justice League landed on HBO Max, which allowed DC fans to finally see the 2017 movie as originally envisioned. During its four-hour runtime, we got to see more of J.K. Simmons’ Commissioner Gordon and, although the Snyderverse looks to have concluded then and there for now, Simmons’ Gordon is returning for the upcoming Batgirl film, and we have a first look at his return. 

J.K. Simmons will play father to Leslie Grace’s Barbara Gordon in the upcoming movie headed to HBO Max later this year. But in set photos shared by Batgirl Film News, there’s a twist to what we’d expect from the DCEU’s Jim Gordon. The actor is looking younger as Simmons has red hair and mustache in the photos. It looks to be a flashback sequence the production was filming, considering that next to Gordon is a young actress who could be playing a younger Barbara and an adult woman he is kissing in one photo (likely Barbara’s mother). 

As of now, we only know a few details about what to expect from Batgirl, but these set photos show that the movie will delve into Jim Gordon’s past prior to Justice League and Barbara Gordon’s origins as a kid before becoming a hero. J.K. Simmons’ Gordon was portrayed as an older man than some of the other versions of the character, so his take should be somewhat refreshing for those who've grown up with Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Fox's Gotham. 

J.K. Simmons has previously shared that he’s playing Gordon in a ”new version of the universe.” Yet it’s unclear if that means it's an interation that's simply away from the Snyderverse or a new vision of the character altogether. Either way, we never really got to see Simmons do a lot with his Gordon, and Batgirl could give him the time to really flesh out the GCPD commissioner. 

Leslie Grace, who many of us first met in In The Heights stars as Batgirl. The actress showed off her costume for the movie last month. Check it out: 

The upcoming DC Comics movie is currently filming in Glasgow under the direction of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who previously helmed Bad Boys For Life. Along with the return of J.K. Simmons’ Gordon, Michael Keaton is apparently set to reprise his version of Batman. Brendan Fraser will play supervillain Firefly, while Ivory Aquino will play Barbara’s best friend, Alysia Yeoh.

There are a lot of exciting things going on in Batgirl, and J.K. Simmons is a great addition to the project. The actor is definitely a staple in superhero cinema, as he recently reprised his famous Marvel role as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: No Way Home. These days, you really never know what old favorite may pop up in the next superhero movie. 

As you await Batgirl's release, check out CinemaBlend's schedule of 2022 movie releases.

Jeffrey Wright made history as soon as he joined The Batman cast as James “Jim” Gordon, becoming the first Black actor to ever play the trusted Gotham City cop (most commonly referred to in comics and DC movies as the city’s Police Commissioner). Of course, each of the previous portrayals of this unmasked ally of the Dark Knight from various comic book adaptations are special and important in their owns ways, but only a chosen few have stood out to true Batfans. 

As a Batfan myself, I thought I would share my picks for the all-time best James Gordon depictions in Batman movies and TV shows we have seen so far. So, let’s flip on the Batsignal and start things off with a portrayal that surely no list of this kind would be complete without.

Neil Hamilton (Batman, Batman: The Movie)

I will admit, I would call Neil Hamilton’s overly cheery, occasionally fourth wall-breaking performance as Commissioner Gordon in the 1960s Batman TV series and theatrical spin-off one of the cheesiest and least badass depictions of the character to ever grace the screen. However, not only does the portrayal perfectly match the fun, campy tone of the series, it also shows a winningly authentic reflection of the mutual trust and admiration between Jim and the Caped Crusader (Adam West), which is key to their dynamic.

Bob Hastings (Batman: The Animated Series)

One show that captures the relationship between Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne’s alter ego perfectly is Batman: The Animated Series, in which Bob Hastings and Kevin Conroy voiced the respective roles, in addition to doing so in a few feature-length spin-offs. Amid the Emmy-winning cartoon’s earnest storylines, Hastings - who previously voiced Superboy in some 1960s animated DC TV shows - brought a certain optimistic charm to the character that remains refreshingly unique in any medium.

Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Trilogy)

As far as I am concerned, no live-action Batman movies so far have ever nailed the Jim Gordon/Batman dynamic nearly as well as the Dark Knight Trilogy, which traces the incorruptible cop’s rise from Gotham City police detective to Commissioner as Bruce Wayne begins his own war on crime. The chemistry between future Academy Award winners Gary Oldman (as Gordon) and Christian Bale (as Batman) as they discreetly join forces amid criticisms of the vigilante's methods is key to the lasting impact of director Christopher Nolan’s grounded take on the comic.

Ben McKenzie (Gotham)

A flashback in 2005’s Batman Begins reveals how Jim Gordon came to know young Bruce Wayne years before unwittingly forming an alliance with his alter ego, which is also, essentially, the basis of Fox’s hit prequel series. Former The O.C. star Ben McKenzie does an excellent job leading the Gotham cast as a younger Gordon hoping to make a difference in the titular, crime-ridden metropolis after joining the police force around the same time as Thomas and Martha Wayne’s untimely murder.

Bryan Cranston (Batman: Year One)

Ben McKenzie is actually one of the few Jim Gordon actors who have also had the honor of playing another Gotham city character: Batman, whom he voiced in 2011’s brilliant animated DC movie, Batman: Year One - based on Frank Miller’s 1986 reinterpretation of the Dark Knight’s origin. However, the true star of this gritty noir is Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, who voices a version of Gordon that is traditionally good-natured and courageous, but willing to bend the rules to show his new, crooked GCPD colleagues that he is not one to be messed with.

Ray Wise (Batman: The Killing Joke)

Batman: Year One is also keen to show that Jim Gordon is still prone to vulnerability, but he has rarely been so vulnerable as in Alan Moore’s groundbreaking one-shot Batman: The Killing Joke. In 2016’s animated adaptation, Twin Peaks cast member Ray Wise voices the Commissioner, whom Joker (Mark Hamill) nearly drives to his breaking point with a torturous psychological experiment that involves shooting and paralyzing his daughter, Barbara (Tara Strong). Luckily, he is, at least, still strong enough by the end to urge Batman (Kevin Conroy) to defeat the Clown Prince of Crime “by the book.”

Christopher Meloni (Harley Quinn)

Very little about Christopher Meloni’s performance as Jim Gordon on HBO Max’s animated Harley Quinn series is “by the book,” but it is certainly a welcome and irresistibly hilarious departure at that. This commissioner is far past his breaking point and resorts to using the Batsignal just to vent his marital woes to Batman (Diedrich Bader), who must be the one to reiterate the importance of the rules to his ally this time around. In any other instance, I’d be offended by the idea of a Gordon who has grown numb to Gotham’s endless crimewave, but it is handled with such clever wit and empathy that I have nothing but praise for it.

J.K. Simmons (Zack Snyder’s Justice League)

Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons has the honor of starring in both Marvel movies (as a pitch-perfect J. Jonah Jameson) and (technically two) DC movies as Jim Gordon, who really does seem like old friends with Ben Affleck’s Batman in the sole scene they share. For a while, fans assumed that his appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (the preferred version) would be the last we saw of him as the commissioner, until the exciting announcement that he will reprise the role in the upcoming Batgirl movie for HBO Max.

I would like to also give an honorable mention to Pat Hingle for his solid performance in Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’s Batman movies as the version of Jim Gordon that I, and surely many others, first became associated with growing up. Yet, in retrospect, the character is not painted in the most flattering or accurate light in those films, which also portray him and Michael Keaton’s Batman as no more than workplace acquaintances, which is why I chose to leave him off this list. Of course, at the end of the day, each and every iteration of Gotham’s commissioner is still worth honoring as one of the many stages in his enduring legacy.

Spider-Man is one of the most popular Marvel superheroes of all time. As such, the web-slinger has been adapted for film a number of times throughout the years, resulting in three different live-action franchises. The first was Sam Raimi’s trilogy, which starred J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. And the Oscar winning actor recently revealed his “heartbreaking” reaction to that franchise being cancelled before Spider-Man 4.

Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man movie succeeded as a superhero movie long before shared universes became commonplace. Two sequels eventually followed, but Sony ended the series after the somewhat infamous threequel. It turns out that J.K. Simmons was pretty upset at the time, as he recently shared: 

What a class act. J.K. Simmons’ character might not have been the lead of the Spider-Man trilogy, but clearly he was emotionally invested in the franchise, and his tenure as J. Jonah Jameson. And while he was sad when the studio moved on and eventually kickstarted the Amazing Spider-Man films with Andrew Garfield, at least the Whiplash actor was able to eventually reprise his role in the MCU.

J.K. Simmons’ comments come from an interview he had with THR on the red carpet of his new movie Being the Ricardos. With Simmons set to once again play the Daily Bugle boss in Spider-Man: No Way Home, eventually the conversation turned to his original run as J. Jonah Jameson. Clearly he’s thrilled with being able to play the iconic Spidey character again on the big screen.

J. Jonah Jameson returned to the big screen in a shocking manner during the mid-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home. While Peter and MJ are enjoying a day in the city, the Daily Bugle (in this universe a gossip site) revealed Spider-Man’s true identity to the world… and also framed him for the murder of Mysterio. That twist ending is the catalyst for the events of No Way Home, which show Tom Holland’s character attempting to clear his name via Doctor Strange’s spell gone wrong.

Luckily for both J.K. Simmons and Spider-Man fans out there, he’ll one again reprise his role in the highly anticipated threequel No Way Home. He’s seen briefly in the trailers, watching in awe as villains like Lizard descend upon New York City. We’ll just have to wait and see how meaty of a role he has; Tom Holland recently revealed that he still hasn’t had the privilege of meeting Simmons in real life.

Spider-Man: No Way Home will hit theaters on December 17th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Aaron Sorkin has made a career out of showing audiences what goes on behind the scenes of places like the White House, television news networks, and the creation of the world’s largest social media platform. With Being the Ricardos, his latest effort, the master screenwriter and budding director provides a short glance into the making of the beloved sitcom I Love Lucy and its principal players over the course of a single yet hectic week.

With A-listers like Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, the Being the Ricardos cast is one of those collections of actors that just keeps getting more and more interesting the farther you get down the list. In the event some of the faces and names don’t look familiar to you, we’ve put together a quick yet comprehensive rundown of the cast and where you’ve seen them before.

Nicole Kidman (Lucille Ball)

Taking on the role of TV legend Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos is Nicole Kidman, who has racked up an Oscar, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and an impressive five Golden Globes throughout her successful film and television career.

Over the years, Nicole Kidman has dazzled audiences with performances in everything from Moulin Rouge! to Big Little Lies and Cold Mountain to The Undoing, with dozens upon dozens of memorable appearances before and since. And with upcoming movies like The Northman and shows including Expats, expect to see a lot more of Kidman in the very near future.

Javier Bardem (Desi Arnaz)

Portraying Lucille Ball’s real-life husband and co-star Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos is Javier Bardem, an actor who has built up a tremendous resumé over the course of the past two decades, including an Oscar and Golden Globe for his terrifying performance in No Country For Old Men.

Although he was already a well-known name before portraying Anton Chigurh in the Coen brothers’ 2007 neo-noir classic, Javier Bardem has become a massive star in the years following its release. With iconic performances in Skyfall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and most recently Dune, Bardem has become one of Hollywood’s best actors.

J.K. Simmons (William Frawley)

What would a movie centering on I Love Lucy be without a portrayal of one of the show’s main stars? Luckily we don’t have that problem as Being the Ricardos sees J.K, Simmons take on the role of William Frawley, the man behind Lucy and Ricky’s neighbor Fred Mertz.

Throughout his career, J.K. Simmons has shown up in both the DC and Marvel cinematic universes playing two of the most iconic comic book characters in the process with portrayals of James Gordon and J. Jonah Jameson (including in the recently released Spider-Man: No Way Home). Outside of the realm of superhero movies, Simmons has also appeared in riveting dramas like Whiplash, for which he won an Oscar and Golden Globe, as well as groundbreaking TV dramas like Oz.

Nina Arianda (Vivian Vance)

Taking on the role of Vivian Vance, who played Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy, is Nina Arianda. Prior to joining the Being the Ricardos cast, the Tony Award-winning actress built up a nice collection of roles in film, television, and the stage.

Over the years, Nina Arianda has given commanding film performances in Midnight in Paris, Florence Foster Jenkins, and Richard Jewell, small-screen appearances on shows like Goliath, Billions, and Hannibal, and broadway shows that include Venus in Fur and Born Yesterday.

Tony Hale (Jess Oppenheimer)

Since so much of Being the Ricardos focuses on the behind-the-scenes drama of I Love Lucy, it only makes sense for some of the major players to play prominent roles in Being the Ricardos. Enter Tony Hale, who portrays the sitcom’s showrunner Jess Oppenheimer.

Whether it is with modern classic TV shows like Arrested Development or Veep, which earned him two Golden Globes, or in movies like The Informant! and Toy Story 4, Tony Hale has been just about everywhere the past couple of decades. And with the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2, it looks like it will be that way for quite some time.

John Rubinstein (Jess Oppenheimer)

Being the Ricardos features modern-day interviews with older versions of several of the key creatives behind I Love Lucy, including one with an older Jess Oppenheimer, played by John Rubinstein. 

The son of influential pianist Arthur Rubinstein, John Rubinstein has bounced between acting, directing, and music composition throughout his more than 50-year career, including Broadway musicals like Pippin and Love Letters, film productions like 21 Grams and Red Dragon, and a list of shows that includes everything from soap operas to Young Sheldon.

Alia Shawkat (Madelyn Pugh)

Taking on the role of I Love Lucy writer Madelyn Pugh in Being the Ricardos is Alia Shawkat, who broke out as a promising young actor in the early 2000s with State of Grace and Arrested Development.

Over the years, Alia Shawkat has continued to find success in front of the camera with appearances in The Final Girls, 20th Century Women, and Blaze. Shawkat currently plays Dory Sief on the TBS/HBO Max original series Search Party. 

Linda Lavin (Madelyn Pugh)

Taking on the role of an older Madelyn Pugh in Being the Ricardos is Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin, who brings with her decades of experience in film, television, and Broadway.

Probably best known for leading the successful TV series Alice from 1976 to 1985, Linda Lavin has appeared on shows like The Muppet Show, The Good Wife, Santa Clarita Diet, and most recently B Positive. Her film work includes The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Back-Up Plan, and The Intern. Lavin’s stage works includes A Family Affair, Broadway Bound, and The Lyons, to name only a few.

Jake Lacy (Bob Carroll Jr.)

Jake Lacy continues his impressive run with a portrayal of Bob Carroll Jr., one of the I Love Lucy writers at the heart of Being the Ricardos. 

Over the course of the past decade, Jake Lacy has gone from a late addition to The Office cast to one of the most go-to comedic actors in film and television with roles in Obvious Child, Girls, Ode to Joy, and High Fidelity. Lacy also gave a great performance as the jerk Shane Patton on The White Lotus in 2021.

Ronny Cox (Bob Carroll Jr.)

Taking on the role of the older Bob Carroll Jr. in Being the Ricardos is Ronny Cox, who has worn many hats throughout his 50-year career.

Perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil in Beverly Hills Cop, Ronny Cox has also appeared in movies like RoboCop, Deliverance, and Total Recall. His television work includes everything from Bonanza to Dexter and Star Trek: The Next Generation to Nashville.

Clark Gregg (Howard Wenke)

Rounding out the Being the Ricardos cast is Clark Gregg, who portrays CBS executive Howard Wenke.

Throughout his career, which goes back to the late 1980s, Clark Gregg has appeared in everything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to modern-day adaptations of Williams Shakespeare’s plays, and dozens of movies and shows in between. 

And don’t forget you can see all these names and more when you watch Being the Ricardos streaming on Amazon Prime. Oh, and now’s the perfect time to check out the remaining 2021 movies before it’s too late.

The DC Extended Universe is always expanding, thanks to acclaimed projects like The Suicide Squad. One of the highly anticipated flicks coming down the line is the Batgirl movie, which is being developed for HBO Max. But is the movie in the main DCEU or not? Here’s what J.K. Simmons says.

DC fans were thrilled to learn that Justice League’s J.K. Simmons would be reprising his role as James Gordon in Batgirl, starring alongside In the Heights actress Leslie Grace. But fans have been wondering if the events will be connected to the greater DCEU. Simmons’ latest comment makes it seem like perhaps we’re dealing with another offset of the universe, saying:

Well, I’m intrigued. J.K. Simmons’ reference to a “new” version of the universe is sure to turn a few heads, and leave us wondering if Batgirl will ever get to crossover with other favorites like Harley Quinn. The multiverse is open for both DC and Marvel, so there’s no telling what might come next for characters like James and Barbara Gordon.

J.K. Simmons’ comments to DenofGeek seem to hint that Batgirl is set outside of the main DCEU. Alternatively he might just be referencing how this “new version of the universe” is different from the one he worked on with Zack Snyder for Justice League. Simmons has gotten some multiverse experience thanks to his role as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but moviegoers definitely have questions about the developing Batgirl movie, and it’s relation to other DC projects. 

As J.K. Simmons explained, he was clearly surprised about returning to the role of James Gordon in Batgirl. After all, it had been a number of years since he filmed his brief scenes for Justice League. Zack Snyder’s five-film plan for the DCEU had been abandoned, so it seemed like this tenure as the GCPD officer was over before it began. At least, until now.

Anticipation for Batgirl has been steadily building, in no small part to the inclusion of J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. The excitement increased thanks to the cast of Brendan Fraser as the villainous Firefly, which should make for an A+ bad guy opposite the title character. The upcoming blockbuster also marks the first time one of Batman’s proteges makes an appearance in the DC Extended Universe… whatever version of the universe it is.

Batgirl is currently expected to arrive on HBO Max sometime in 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

At the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, viewers were treated to a surprise cameo by J.K. Simmons, who’s now playing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s J. Jonah Jameson following his time as the character in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man film series. Although this version of Jameson runs The Daily Bugle as an online news outlet rather than a newspaper, he’s just as hateful towards Spider-Man as usually depicted, and we’ll see him keeping up his anti-Web-Slinger crusade later this month in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But here’s the weird thing: Tom Holland has never actually met Simmons in person.

While Tobey Maguire interacted with J.K. Simmons many times in the original Spider-Man movies, evidently things didn’t work out for Tom Holland to cross paths with Simmons during Spider-Man: No Way Home’s production. Here’s what Holland told CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell during the No Way Home junket:

Maybe if Spider-Man: No Way Home had shot during a time where a widespread virus wasn’t an ongoing concern, Tom Holland and J.K. Simmons could have acted together on camera for at least one scene, if not several. Alas, that’s not the world we live in, so instead, the only moment in No Way Home where Holland’s Peter Parker and Simmons’ J.K. Simmons are in the general vicinity of one another was shot separately with each actor. But with the prospect of more Holland-led Spider-Man movies on the horizon, like the actor noted, there’s good chance he and Simmons will act together someday.

Still, even from afar, J.K. Simmons’ latest version of J. Jonah Jameson has caused a lot of trouble for Peter Parker in the MCU. In the Spider-Man: Far From Home mid-credits scene, The Daily Bugle broadcasted the doctored footage Mysterio and his team put together that not only revealed Spider-Man’s secret identity, but also framed him for the Elemental attack in London and Mysterio’s death. A tweaked version of that broadcast aired at the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage after Eddie Brock and his symbiote were transported to the MCU.

Outside of his continued efforts to convince everyone that Spider-Man as a menace, it’s unclear what’s specifically in store for J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: No Way Home. That said, taking into account Tom Holland’s quote to CinemaBlend and the brief footage of Jameson in the last No Way Home trailer, it looks like we may see Peter save Jameson from some pandemonium caused by Electro and Sandman. Still, I doubt that’ll do much good in persuading Jameson that Spidey is a force for good.

Spider-Man: No Way Home swings into theaters on December 17, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more news concerning the threequel and other upcoming Marvel movies.

It’s hard to imagine Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man film series without J.K. Simmons. The always-busy actor stole scenes as Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson in all three movies and made an indelible impression on countless fans around the world. Now, as the premiere of his second appearance as Jameson in the MCU looms, Simmons is reflecting on the surprisingly strange way he found out he’d first won the role in the first place. 

When Spider-Man premiered in 2002, the internet was a different place. Rather than gathering on social media platforms to discuss Hollywood news and rumors, fans gathered on other forums and sites to share what they knew. Word still managed to get around well enough, though -- just ask J.K. Simmons, who recently revealed to The Ringer that the Internet was the reason he first found out about his role in the inaugural Spidey flick:

While it may have been a little confusing to learn about such a big career moment from a total stranger, it was probably exciting to know he already had fans rooting for his performance as the crabby journalist. They had plenty of reason to - the actor's boisterous, pitch-perfect turn as J. Jonah Jameson may not have won him his Oscar, but it remains a fan favorite to this day. 

That’s part of the reason fans were so excited to see J.K. Simmons reprise the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, first in a mid-credits cameo in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home and soon in No Way Home. The internet is more abuzz than ever, carefully tracking every clue and potential spoiler in the MCU and elsewhere. But at least this time around, he was able to learn about his role before the fans did. 

The latest installment of the film franchise has perhaps created more of a fuss than any other before it, especially with the rumors of other former Spidey actors reprising their roles. And should they all appear, J.K. Simmons' Jameson should have plenty to bark about in the movie. We’ll see how it all comes together when Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on December 17. 

It’s official: Spider-Man: No Way Home is taking Marvel fans back to the Sam Raimi trilogy with a few returning characters from the first big-screen franchise starring Peter Parker. Yes, it’s been confirmed that Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, Alfred Molina’s Otto Octavius, and J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson will be part of the upcoming movie (among others) and we couldn’t be more excited. Ahead of its release, Simmons shared a behind-the-scenes story about how he fought for one vital part that makes J. Jonah, J. Jonah. 

As you might remember, in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, J.K. Simmons unexpectedly reprised the role at the end of the film to share the identity of Spider-Man, thanks to Mysterio’s evil plan. As we move forward to No Way Home, the actor spoke to the Happy Sad Confused podcast about the character’s appearance before noting how he made sure to stay true to the character. In his words:  

As J.K. Simmons shared to the podcast, when he returned for Far From Home, the actor met with the filmmakers and Sony just a couple days before shooting the Far From Home post-credit scene. Therefore, there wasn’t a lot of time for Simmons to grow out the haircut, or presumably give him a flat-top wig that would work. As the actor continued:

Simmons said that during the meeting they didn’t only want to ditch the original haircut, but they also didn’t care about leaving the mustache and cigar in the scene. The actor then negotiated with them, pointing out that those elements are very much part of the character. 

In the latest No Way Home trailer, there’s a brief shot of J. Jonah Jameson in a hat and of course with that iconic mustache (pictured above). Check out the full trailer here: 

The premise of Spider-Man: No Way Home is that after Mysterio outed Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to be Peter Parker, he’s been named a public enemy. In desperation, Peter goes to Doctor Strange to ask him for help through his magical powers. Strange comes up with a spell, but in casting it, somehow opens the multiverse. Numerous villains from other Spider-Man movies begin to come for this Spider-Man, leaving him outnumbered. Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on December 17. 

The DC Extended Universe is expanding in a number of exciting ways over the next few years, including the silver and small screens. Case point: The upcoming Batgirl movie, which is being produced for HBO Max. DC Fans can’t wait to see J.K. Simmons back as James Gordon, and he recently revealed when he’s going to be filming the upcoming movie.

Prolific actor J.K. Simmons debuted as James Gordon in Justice League-- appearing in both cuts of Zack Snyder’s blockbuster. But it was a relatively small role, which is why his return in Batgirl is such an exciting prospect. He recently spoke to his upcoming role in the blockbuster opposite Leslie Grace, saying:

Same, though. Just like fans, J.K. Simmons is psyched about being able to dive back into his DCEU role. And with Batgirl obviously focusing on his daughter Barbara, he’s sure to have a meaty role in the mysterious comic book adaptation. Luckily, filming is going to begin for the Spider-Man actor in January.

J.K. Simmons’ comments come from his recent appearance on the Harry Sad Confused podcast. Obviously his ongoing role in the DCEU came up during the interview, especially since he’s finally wearing James Gordon’s signature glasses again. We’ll just have to wait and see how the rest of the cast of Batgirl comes together.

With Batgirl still in the development stage, the information about the DC superhero flick is relatively limited. The project will be helmed by Bad Boys For Life filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, and written by Christina Hodson (Bumblebee, Birds of Prey). J.K. Simmons is joined by In The Heights’ Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, while Brendan Fraser was recently confirmed as the villainous Firefly. 

Gotham City continues to be an important setting in the DC Extended Universe, and it should be interesting to see how Batgirl ends up connecting to the rest of the massive franchise. It would be awesome to see Barbara and James Gordon interact with other characters from the same city. For her part, Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie seems interested in possibly being paired with the Batman protegee sometime in the future. Let’s just hope that actually plays out sometime in the future.

With production for Batgirl starting so shortly, there are sure to be more thrilling updates coming for the highly anticipated superhero flick. Warner Bros. is clearly putting a ton of DCEU content on HBO Max, including the Peacemaker series and the developing Blue Beetle movie.

Batgirl is currently expected to arrive sometime in 2022, but it does not have a concrete release date. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The DC Extended Universe is always expanding, with Warner Bros. making plans for both theaters and streaming. The upcoming Batgirl movie is in the latter category, with Bad Boys For Life directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi behind the camera. And it turns out that Batgirl is filming soon, so bring on J.K. Simmons’ James Gordon.

The cast of Batgirl is still coming together, but fans were thrilled to learn that J.K. Simmons would once again be playing James Gordon opposite Leslie Grace’s title character. Grace has been sharing clips of her training for the role, and it looks like that work is about to pay off. Because Adil El Arbi’s latest update revealed that production is starting soon. Check it out for yourself below,

Well, that’s certainly intriguing. It looks like Batgirl is about to hit the ground running, to the joy of the generations of Batman fans out there. Let’s just hope that more thrilling casting updates arrive as cameras start finally rolling. Fingers crossed.

The above image comes to us from the Instagram story of Batgirl co-director Adil El Arbi. In it we see that he and his collaborator Bilall Fallah are seated at the head of a table, with a microphone nearby. It’s unclear if they’re meeting with press or crew members, but the caption reads “getting closer to shoot.” And just like that, we’ll be returning to the DCEU’s version of Gotham City.

The information about Batgirl is fairly limited at this time, but it’s unique because Warner Bros. is reportedly developing the project for a strictly streaming release on HBO Max. The project will be written by Christina Hodson, who previously worked on Bumblebee and Birds of Prey. And with J.K. Simmons returning as James Gordon, that pretty much confirms the project will be set within the main DCEU timeline. As such, it could have implications for the future of the shared universe.

Of course, J.K. Simmons isn’t the only actor currently attached to bring Batgirl to life. The movie will be led by In the Heights actress Leslie Grace, which will mark the first time we’ll see a Batman protegee in the DCEU. Another notable name is Brendan Fraser as the villainous Firefly. Jacob Scipio also has an unknown role.

It should be interesting to see if/how Batgirl ends up influencing the overall DC Extended Universe. Gotham City is a super popular location, one that has already housed a number of iconic characters like Harley Quinn. Could we see Leslie Grace’s hero crossover with other characters like Ben Affleck’s Batman? We can only hope.

The upcoming Batgirl movie is the first new DC movie to be developed for HBO Max, but it certainly won’t be the last. Warner Bros. is putting a ton of focus on the streaming service, including the Blue Beetle movie and the Green Lantern series.

Batgirl is currently expected to arrive sometime in 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Although 2021 has provided a wide assortment of different movies, whether they played in theaters or were streaming exclusives, there hasn’t been much from the sports genre outside of watching LeBron James play basketball with the Looney Tunes in Space Jam: A New Legacy. Luckily for fans of sports movies, along with the Zachary Levi-led American Underdog arriving in late December, there’s also National Champions coming out earlier in the month, and it boasts an impressive lineup of talented actors and some serious drama surrounding college football.

Hailing from STXfilms and Lionsgate, National Champions follows a star college quarterback named LeMarcus James, played by Homecoming’s Stephan James, and teammate Emmett Sunday, played by Vikings’ Alexander Ludwig, organizing a players strike so that all college athletes are fairly compensated. As seen in the trailer, Stefan lays out how he and his teammates don’t see a dime from the money these football games rake in, and the players who aren’t later drafted into the NFL will go without any compensation or medical insurance for the injuries they sustained while playing the sport. Meanwhile, their coach, James Lazer, played by J.K. Simmons, receives an annual salary of $5 million, and he’s just the tip of the iceberg of the notable figures in the NCAA who pull in millions of dollars while the players get nothing.

Needless to say that Stefan and Emmet organizing a strike causes a lot of problems, especially considering that it happens just days before a National Title game. The actors playing the individuals who stand to lose a lot from the collegiate athletics system being overturned include  Lil Rel Howery, Tim Blake Nelson, Andrew Bachelor, Jeffrey Donovan, David Koechner, Kristin Chenoweth, Timothy Olyphant and Uzo Aduba. Fortunately for Stefan and Emmett, many others join their boycott, which has the potential to not just change college football, but the entire collegiate athletics system too. 

While it may look like National Champions is based on a true story, rest assured that this is a fictional story, so there’ll be no turning to articles or books to learn how this college football conflict ends. Behind the scenes, Greenland’s Ric Roman Waugh directed off a script from 21 Bridges’ Adam Mervis, who wrote the original play the movie is based on. Since National Champions precedes American Underdog by a few weeks, this will be the first theatrically-released football-centric drama since 2015’s Woodlawn.

National Champions opens in theaters on December 10, the same day that 20th Century Studios’ West Side Story, Netflix’s Don’t Look Up and Amazon’s Being the Ricardos arrive. Learn what other movies are left to arrive this year with our 2021 release schedule, or look through the 2022 release schedule to map out what you’ll check out next year.

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The DC Extended Universe is always expanding, and there are some highly anticipated projects coming to both theaters and straight to streaming on HBO Max. This includes the developing Batgirl movie, which is set to star In the Heights actress Leslie Grace. And the new Batgirl has responded to rumors about J.K. Simmons possibly playing James Gordon.

Warner Bros. has been crafting DC projects set both within and outside of the main DCEU canon. It’s currently unclear how Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s Batgirl movie will factor into the timeline, but fans are hoping to see J.K. Simmons returns as Gotham City Police Department Commissioner Gordon. Leslie Grace recently responded to those rumors, saying:

Well, there you have it. It seems J.K. Simmons’ return to the DCEU isn’t exactly a sure thing. But Leslie Grace is hoping those rumors come true, just like the rest of us. After all, who wouldn't want to star in a movie opposite Simmons?

Leslie Grace’s comments to ET Online shows how excited the actress-singer is to be playing Barbara Gordon in the DC Extended Universe. Batgirl is a beloved hero, and fans are excited to see her finally get a starring vehicle. We’ll just have to wait and see if the movie ends up going to theaters or maintains plans for a streaming release on HBO Max.

The DCEU has found its streaming home on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Narratively it would make a great deal of sense for J.K. Simmons to appear as James Gordon in the Batgirl movie. Considering how limited his role in Justice League, this would also allow Simmons to finally sink his teeth into the iconic character. Hopefully this happens, as long as he’s not too busy playing J. Jonah Jameson in the MCU.

The Batgirl movie marks the first time a DCEU project will put the spotlight on one of Batman’s protegees. While we saw the costume of a fallen Robin in the Batcave during Batman v Superman, there’s been no mention of characters like Batgirl or Nightwing. We’ll just have to see how Leslie Grace’s character is given an origin story, and if it connects to Ben Affleck’s version of the Dark Knight.

It’s currently unclear when Batgirl will be released, but it’s currently expected to be a HBO Max original. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The following story may contain significant spoilers for Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

The sequel to the surprise hit Venom won't be coming out exactly when we thought it would be, but while the movie has been delayed, that's not the only thing fans are talking about right now. Since the movie was only about a month away from release before being delayed yet again, we were seeing more details about the movie in the media. This includes a rough plot synopsis and a more detailed cast list. However, one listing that landed online includes a yet unannounced name as appearing in the movie, J.K. Simmons, and you know what that means.

The last time we saw J.K. Simmons in a Marvel associated superhero movie it was in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home, and he was playing J. Jonah Jameson, the same role he'd played to perfection in the three Spider-Man films directed by Sam Raimi. According to one online listing, Simmons is in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. And since there are already indications, and a lot of rumors, that the Sony Spider-Verse might connect to the MCU in some way, people are thinking that might be happening here.

There's certainly a lot of potential directions we could take this information and a lot of different things it could mean. First and foremost, there's the possibility that this piece of information is simply an error. It's a single UK theater chain that has apparently posted that J.K. Simmons is appearing in the Venom sequel and it may have just been a miscommunication. It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened.

If it's not a glitch in the matrix, then what does that mean? Most importantly, even this cast list does not claim that J.K. Simmons is playing J. Jonah Jameson, so it's just as possible that he is in the movie but playing somebody else. He could be playing a role completely unrelated to anything within the Spider-Verse. It would certainly be funny to see Simmons in a Spider-Man adjacent film not playing JJ, but perhaps that's an intentional move, as easter egg of sorts.

Part of the problem, of course, is that we simply don't know how Sony's Spider-Verse and the MCU will ultimately come together, or even if they actually will. We've seen Michael Keaton, another member of the MCU Spider-Man universe, appearing in the trailer for Morbius, which got a lot of fans talking, but we're still not entirely clear on what role he is playing. He could be reprising his role from Spider-Man: Homecoming or he could be playing something entirely different.

And even if J.K. Simmons is in Let There be Carnage, and even if he's playing J. Jonah Jameson, we don't know which one he's playing. While Simmons appeared at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, in the same role he played almost 20 years ago, our understanding is that he's not playing literally the same character, just the MCU version of that character. So could Simmons be playing the MCU Jameson here, or the Raimi Jameson, or an entirely separate third version?

The fact that this information could still simply be an error can't be entirely discounted, but if it is true, that doesn't really reveal any great answers, it just raises more questions, questions we'll now need to wait an extra month to answer.

Along with Robert Pattinson playing Bruce Wayne for Matt Reeves’ The Batman and both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton reprising their respective versions of the Caped Crusader in The Flash, the Batman corner of the DC Universe will soon get more attention in the cinematic realm thanks to Batgirl. Last week, it was announced that In the Heights star Leslie Grace will play Barbara Gordon for the HBO Max exclusive movie, and now word’s come in that J.K. Simmons, who played Commissioner James Gordon in Justice League, is being eyed to reprise the role.

J.K. Simmons is currently in negotiations to take part in Batgirl, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Given that James Gordon is traditionally depicted as Barbara Gordon’s father (be it adoptive or biological), it makes sense that he’d be present for the Batgirl movie, but there had been rumors that the role would be recast. Evidently not, and assuming a deal is finalized, this hammers home that Batgirl is set within the DC Extended Universe continuity.

J.K. Simmons appeared as Commissioner James Gordon in both Justice League’s theatrical cut and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which premiered on HBO Max earlier this year. However, he didn’t get that much screen time, primarily appearing to give Batman (who he’s been allied with for years), Wonder Woman, Flash and Cyborg intel on the Parademon kidnappings across Gotham City. It probably goes without saying Gordon would have a much bigger role in Batgirl, although plot details for the project haven’t been revealed yet.

Commissioner James Gordon marks J.K. Simmons’ second live-action superhero movie role. He first jumped into the genre to play Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, and now he’s playing a different version of Jameson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Simmons has also voiced Jameson in various Marvel animated TV shows over the years, and he gained some extra comic book media cred recently by voicing Nolan Grayson, a.k.a. Omni-Man, in Amazon’s Invincible series.

Along with J.K. Simmons being courted for Batgirl, Commissioner James Gordon is also being played by Westworld star Jeffrey Wright in The Batman, with this version of the character having only just started working with Gotham City’s Dark Knight. So as with Batman himself, we’ll be spending time with several versions of Gordon from the DC multiverse in the near future. As far as Batgirl is specifically concerned, Birds of Prey and The Flash’s Christina Hodson penned the script, and Bad Boys for Life duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have been hired to direct the feature.

Batgirl doesn’t have a specific release date yet, but reportedly the plan is to release it on HBO Max in 2022. While we wait for more updates on this project’s development, browse through our upcoming DC movies guide to learn what else this corner of the superhero movie market has coming up.

There are very few castings that can be called “perfect,” but among the ones that easily fill that classification is J.K. Simmons playing J. Jonah Jameson. The actor’s time as the loudmouthed and temperamental publisher of The Daily Bugle is among the most praised elements of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. Well, on the slim chance you need a reminder just how amazing Simmons was in the role, some test footage of him auditioning for the role has resurfaced to fulfill that job.

At the beginning of 2000, Sam Raimi was hired by Sony Pictures to direct Spider-Man, and over the course of the same year, the movie’s cast was slowly put together. While it’s unclear specifically when J.K. Simmons boarded the project, you can see how his J. Jonah Jameson screen test went thanks to the below clip shared by Twiter user Daily Raimi Spider-Man!:

Here we have J.K. Simmons acting out a shortened version of J. Jonah Jameson’s introductory scene in Spider-Man, with the character already have an axe to grind with the Web-Slinger and demanding that someone that get a clear photo of this menace. While the performance in the screen test is a little more subdued compared to what was in the movie, it’s still abundantly clear that Simmons is an excellent fit for the role. All that was left to do was put on a suit and rock the character’s trademark hairstyle and mustache.

In addition to playing J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, J.K. Simmons also vocally reprised the character in various animated series, like Ultimate Spider-Man and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. As far as the cinematic realm goes, Jameson was absent from the Amazing Spider-Man film series, with his presence only being felt in an email he sent to Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Then in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, after sitting out Spider-Man: Homecoming, Jameson finally made his grand big screen return in Spider-Man: Far From Home’s mid-credits scene. Rather than hire a new actor, director Jon Watts wisely brought back Simmons to play the MCU version of the character, who’s bald rather than boasts the flattop hairdo.

Within the MCU reality, J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson runs The Daily Bugle as a controversial online news platform, with that being exemplified at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home by the host broadcasting doctored footage of Mysterio framing Spider-Man for the attack on London and revealing that Peter Parker is the Wall-Crawler. In addition to reprising the role for Spider-Man: No Way Home later this year, Simmons also said last year that another Jameson appearance was already in the can, and No Way Home hadn’t begun filming by that point. What had been shot, however, was Morbius, and while it hasn’t been confirmed yet if Simmons is in the Jared Leto-led vampire flick, it does seem as though this new version of Jameson will be a player in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters.

Much like Judi Dench did with M in the James Bond movies, J.K. Simmons has been given the rare opportunity to play a different version of a character he already brought to life in a separate film series, thus keeping his run as J. Jonah Jameson going for almost two decades now. We’ll see what’s in store for him next when Spider-Man: No Way Home swings into theaters on December 17.

There are more than a few reasons to be impressed by The Tomorrow War. If you like movies where guys fire machine guns and a nearly constant pace, it has that. If you like creative alien creature designs, the look of the white spikes is pretty cool. If you're a fan of Chris Pratt, then you kinda need to see it. But even if you don't care about any of those things, you might want to watch The Tomorrow War anyway, just to get a look at J.K. Simmons' arms. They're so amazing even the Schwarzenegger family is impressed.

J.K. Simmons plays the father of Chris Pratt's character in The Tomorrow War. He's a Vietnam vet who has become estranged from his son since coming home. It's unclear exactly what he's been doing in the years since, but he's certainly kept himself in fighting shape because Simmons looks absolutely amazing. He looks like he could fight one of the vicious alien creatures with his bare hands. And the actor received some amazing compliments on his physique from somebody who would know. According to USA Today, Chris Pratt relayed his wife's thoughts to the actor, which were "Oh, my God, J.K. Simmons is jacked." Simmons response was...

Katherine Schwarzenegger, being Arnold's daughter, would certainly know jacked when she sees it. Her father was able to built an incredible professional life that started with him as a professional bodybuilder. He transitioned that into a career as one of the biggest action movie stars of the 80s and 90s. If Arnold's daughter is impressed, then J.K. Simmons has every reason to be feeling good.

It's always impressive to see what actors can accomplish when they put the time and the work in for a role. While it might make some of us feel like we really need to go the gym more often, it's also somewhat inspiring as it shows that it really can be done. If you put the work in and stick with it you can absolutely transform yourself. J.K. Simmons has never really been obviously out of shape, but when he looks like this he looks like a whole different person.

We'll have to wait and see if J.K. Simmons decides to keep this particular build going forward. While it's likely a lot of work, it sounds like Simmons appreciates the compliments he gets from it. None of his upcoming roles would necessarily require him to be this bulked up, but at the same time none of them would necessarily require him to lose the muscles either. If you haven't seen J.K. Simmons go full action hero, The Tomorrow War will always be there on Amazon Prime Video so fans can experience, or reexperience, a super jacked J.K. Simmons.

Following a huge streaming debut for the Chris Pratt-led science fiction movie The Tomorrow War, it looks like the Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy star could have another franchise on his hands. With barely a week since the film’s release, there are reportedly discussions in the works about a second Tomorrow War movie led by Amazon Studios, Skydance and Paramount.

The creative team that brought the action movie about an apocalyptic alien war is apparently involved in continuing with The Tomorrow War 2, per Deadline. It has not yet been confirmed by the studio or those involved, but reportedly director Chris McKay, writer Zach Dean along with the main cast including Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, Edwin Hodge, Sam Richardson and J.K. Simmons could be involved in continuing the franchise.

This past week, Chris Pratt has shared his pride for The Tomorrow War’s commercial success, calling it the “number one film in America.” The movie reportedly was seen by 2.41 million households during the Independence Day four-day weekend on Amazon Prime Video. It’s an impressive number and it’s not surprising that it could be enough to convince the executives behind the film to want to move forward with a second movie.

While The Tomorrow War was originally set to hit theaters in 2020, Amazon Studios bought the movie from Paramount for an alleged $200 million. The movie traded a box office debut for a massive streaming debut along with being warmly received by audiences – critics however did not love it, including CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes, who called it a “disastrous waste of time” in our review.

The Tomorrow War was Chris Pratt’s first executive producer credit on a feature film. Over on his Instagram, Pratt recorded a video message to fans of the film to thank them for watching the movie. He called the movie his “baby” as he shared his gratitude for its instant success:

The movie’s director Chris McKay has spoken about some potential ideas for The Tomorrow War prior to this report. He said this to ComicBook:

It certainly sounds like more Tomorrow War was already on their minds. The movie introduces an apocalyptic event which must be rewritten in order to no longer exist. As we know from movies like Back to the Future, Terminator or the MCU, timeline changes in movies don’t always end how its characters think it will and can spill a whole new set of problems one might not expect. It would be interesting to see Chris Pratt’s character and the rest of the cast reprise their roles following the movie’s ending.

What do you think? Would you like to see The Tomorrow War 2? Vote in our poll below and check out CinemaBlend’s interview with director Chris McKay on the ReelBlend podcast.

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Since he (almost literally) skyrocketed to the A-list only some years less than a decade ago, Chris Pratt has gone on various adventures that have taken him in nearly every direction you could think of. So, naturally, the only place he has left to go is the future, which is exactly where he is going in The Tomorrow War - a sci-fi thriller (premiering exclusively on Amazon Prime Friday, July 2) about a group of modern-day military personnel (also including Yvonne Strahovski) transported through time to save humanity from an evil alien enemy. To find out who else has been drafted into this bizarre conflict, read on through this breakdown of who is playing who in (and where you might recognize them) the Tomorrow War cast, starting with the movie’s aforementioned main hero.

Chris Pratt (Dan Forester)

Pulling double duty as executive producer and top-billed lead of The Tomorrow War is one of America’s favorite’s leading men, Chris Pratt - who transitioned from sitcom star (as Andy Dwyer in the Parks and Recreation cast) to action star when he played Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. Since then, he has starred in three (soon to be five) other Marvel movies, two (soon to be three) Jurassic World movies, two LEGO movies, one Pixar movie (Onward), and a surprisingly good remake of The Magnificent Seven in 2016. It appears that the 42-year-old former Everwood cast member (which is how he met MCU actress Emily VanCamp) will soon revisit that western persona and add two other vastly disparate personas to his resume all at once when he stars in the long-awaited adaptation of A.J. Lieberman and Riley Rossmo’s graphic novel, Cowboy Ninja Viking.

Yvonne Strahovski (Col. Muri Forester)

This is not the first time that Yvonne Strahovski has faced off against otherworldly beings, having been a staple of the Mass Effect video game series since the second installment in 2010 and appearing in Shane Black’s The Predator in 2018. The Australian-born beauty also has had her fair of roles as ass-kicking women, from breaking out on the Chuck cast as CIA agent Sarah Walker to playing English CIA agent Kate Morgan on 24: Live Another Day, and also very troubled people, like the homicidal Hannah McKay on the Dexter cast or wrongfully incarcerated flight attendant Sophie Werner on the fact-based Netflix exclusive miniseries Stateless. Stahovski returned the role on the Handmaid’s Tale cast that earned her both a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination - Serena Waterford - for Season 4 of the hit Hulu drama in 2021.

Sam Richardson (Charlie)

This is also not the first time that comedian Sam Richardson has encountered threats of a bizarre kind - and in more than one genre, too - as a recurring cast member of the Netflix original sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave and a series regular on M.O.D.O.K., which is one of the more unique Marvel TV shows exclusive to Hulu. The actor of Ghanaian descent would also pop up in small parts in TV shows like The Office and movies like Spy before joining the Veep cast made him one of the most promising and comedic talents of his time, but being a part of the Tomorrow War cast looks like the beginning of him transitioning into more serious projects, like the upcoming dramedy Shoot the Rooster. You will also be able to hear his voice as a currently undisclosed character on Harley Quinn Season 3 soon enough.

Betty Gilpin (Emmy Forester)

Before joining the Tomorrow War cast (not as a soldier, but as the wife of Chris Pratt’s character), Betty Gilpin was known primarily for kicking human butt, particularly on the GLOW cast as a female professional wrestling star in 1980s Los Angeles and in the controversial 2020 thriller The Hunt as one of several strangers randomly selected to be hunted for sport. The three-time Emmy-winning actress has also played a variety of other roles on the big and small screen, from sexually promiscuous doctor Carrie Roman on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, a reproductive biology researcher on said network’s Masters of Sex, and the spirit of World War II-era nurse in the film Ghost Town from 2008. When not playing a medical professional, Gilpin has also played Rebel Wilson’s assistant and rival in the rom-com parody Isn’t It Romantic and a detective in the Netflix original comedy Coffee and Kareem in 2020, just to name a few.

J.K. Simmons (James Forester)

Before joining the Tomorrow War cast as the father of Chris Pratt’s character, J.K. Simmons found himself in another weird situation involving time in the hilarious Hulu exclusive rom-com Palm Springs in 2020 and other strange, fateful battles as part of the Invincible voice cast on Amazon Prime the following. The latter is also just the most recent of several times that the Oscar-winner (for 2014’s Whiplash) has played a comic book character after appearing as Peter Parer’s boss J. Jonah Jameson in several superhero movies (and counting) and also joining the DC movies as Commissioner James Gordon in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. You also might recognize Simmons’ voice as the Yellow M&M in the popular candy brand’s ads and will hear it again in the upcoming animated adventure Seal Team, which is expected to come out in January 2022.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (Norah)

The Tomorrow War will see Mary Lynn Rajskub reuniting with a few people in the cast, including Yvonne Strahovski from 24: Live Another Day (on which she reprised her role from the original hit series as Chloe O’Brian) and Sam Richardson (whose short-lived Comedy Central series Detroiters featured the actress in a guest appearance). Those two credits should be all you need to know to realize that the actress and comedian has done pretty much everything under the sun, from acclaimed cinematic dramedies like 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine to Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’ irreverent sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David and its Netflix original reboot W/Bob and David in 2015. Rajskub will continue her penchant for variety with the upcoming films Please Baby Please and Blue Iguana.

Edwin Hodge (Dorian)

The Tomorrow War will also see a reunion between Chris Pratt and Edwin Hodge for the first time since the ‘80s-set comedy Take Me Home Tonight and marks the latest time that Edwin Hodge has played a soldier, such as on Six - the Navy Seal Team Six-inspired drama from A&E. The 36-year-old made his acting debut alongside his younger brother Aldis Hodge in 1995’s Die Hard with a Vengeance and would later go on to become a staple of the Purge movies, appear in the 2018 Transformers prequel Bumblebee, and land a recurring role on the Sons of Anarchy spin-off Mayans M.C. for FX. Hodge was also recently cast as former NBA player Ron Boone in an upcoming miniseries about the history Los Angeles Lakers for HBO.

Jasmine Matthews (Lt. Hart)

The Tomorrow War marks the feature film debut (and fifth acting credits overall) of Jasmine Matthews, who has already endured an impressive reputation on TV in her short career so far. Her first gig was a guest spot on the Blue Bloods cast before landing a part on the Paramount Network’s series adaptation of the 1989 coming-of-age dark comedy Heathers in 2018 and Starz’s coming-of-age drama Sweetbitter the same year. She would later earn a recurring role on the hit ABC cop show The Rookie and will appear in The Man from Toronto opposite Kevin Hart next.

Keith Powers (Major Greenwood)

Keith Powers also made his feature film debut with a big budget ensemble piece in the form of 2015’s NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton before being cast in a recurring spot on the MTV comedy Faking It, which led to more popular movies like Before I Fall in 2017 and more buzz worthy TV shows like the thriller What/If (not to be confused with Marvel’s Disney+ series What If…?) on Netflix. After appearing in The Tomorrow War, Powers has romantic dramas On Our Way and The Perfect Find lined up next.

Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Young Muri Forester)

I would call The Tomorrow War a big break for 11-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong (who plays Chris Pratt’s daughter) if she had not already been in so many huge titles of the big screen such as It: Chapter Two (one of the most successful horror movies of 2019), The Glorias (in which she played a young Gloria Steinem), and the Netflix original series Anne with an “E.” She will soon be appearing on American Horror Story Season 10, has a role in the long-awaited Marvel movie Black Widow, is now filming Firestarter - a new adaptation of the classic Stephen King novel.

Well, it appears that the aliens threatening the world’s future in The Tomorrow War have some fierce competition to face with a cast of heavy-hitters like these actors. We shall see for sure when the sci-fi thriller from director Chris McKay premieres on Amazon Prime Video Friday, July 2, 2021.