J.K. Simmons isn't particularly clear on the intricate details of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe."I have no idea," Simmons said during an interview with Variety at the Critics Choice Awards. "They write a script and I learn the lines and the director says, 'Stand over there,' and you know."
Despite this, Simmons acknowledged that it was a thrill to play icons like DC's James Gordon alongside Jeffrey Wright, the most recent actor to portray the Gotham City commissioner in The Batman. Matt Reeves, who directed the movie, was adamant that his version of Gotham and all the characters within it -- including Wright -- be separate from DC's existing universe.
"Apparently Jeffrey Wright and I are in different multiverses," Simmons said. "...It's super cool for there to be room in the Marvel universe as we've seen, and in the DC universe, for these alternate universes or realities or whatever they are."
Simmons first made his superhero film debut in director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, bringing the loud-mouthed Daily Bugle editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson to life in all three movies, from 2002 to 2007. He would reprise the role in several animated series, including Ultimate Spider-Man and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
Simmons' Jameson officially entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home and 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home. Instead of a newspaper editor, the MCU version of the character was reimagined as a brash webcast host who was still perfectly happy to continue portraying Spider-Man as a menace to society. Simmons voiced Jameson once again in a quick mid-credits scene in 2021's Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and in a recent interview, he hinted at more Jameson MCU appearances in the near future: "I think I'm going to be in more. So, fingers crossed."
In DC's film world, Simmons played Commissioner Gordon in 2013's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and both the 2016 theatrical cut of Justice League as well as the 2021 Zack Snyder cut. Simmons will reprise the role in the HBO Max Batgirl film, which is currently scheduled for a release in 2022.
Aside from Marvel and DC, Simmons has also dipped his toes in Image Comics adaptations by voicing Omni-Man in Prime Video's Invincible animated series. He is the recipient of an Academy Award for his portrayal of jazz instructor Terence Fletcher in the 2014 drama film Whiplash.
Source:Â Twitter