Key Takeaways:
– Invincible Season 2 continues to draw viewers with its amazing plot and high-profile guest stars.
– Among the impressive cast are Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, and Sandra Oh who voice the Grayson family characters.
– Show creator Robert Kirkman confides that the performers needed no auditions; the cast members, instead, trusted Kirkman's vision for Invincible.
– Sandra Oh took a little persuasion to join, while Yeun and Simmons readily agreed to take up their roles.
– Invincible Seasons 1 & 2 are currently available on Amazon Prime Video.
True to its name, the Amazon Prime Video series, Invincible, seems unstoppable. The animated superhero show, which recently launched its seventh episode of Season 2, continues to intrigue and captivate its audience. Created by Robert Kirkman, the series boasts stars like Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, and Sandra Oh as voice actors. Moreover, the method of casting these prominent actors for the series is quite remarkable.
A Unique Casting Approach for ‘Invincible'
Interestingly, instead of traditional auditions, Kirkman chose to invite these celebrated actors directly to voice different characters. Some of the actors had experience with voice work, while others put their faith in Kirkman and the Invincible team, agreeing to come on board somewhat blindly.
Through his conversation with ComicsBeat, Kirkman revealed that Hollywood talents, particularly Sandra Oh, needed to be persuaded that the superhero universe of Invincible was worthwhile. Oh, acclaimed for her roles in Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve, was cast to play Debbie, the Earthly mother of Mark Grayson.
As Kirkman stated, “All the actors were more auditioning us than we were auditioning them. I wouldn't presume to [ask] Sandra Oh to prove to me that you can play Debbie, like, that's not really gonna happen. I had a very long conversation with her trying to convince her that this crazy superhero world was worth our time.”
Casting Brilliance: How Invincible Landed Stellar Performers
The credit, according to Kirkman, also goes to Linda Lamontagne, the series' casting director. Her remarkable shortlist of actors, chosen by her intuition and experience, helped crystallize the characters. While Sandra Oh required some persuasion, Steven Yeun and J.K. Simmons accepted their roles without hesitation.
Yeun, who played Mark Grayson or Invincible, the titular superhero of the series, had previously collaborated with Kirkman on The Walking Dead. So, when Kirkman offered him the role in Invincible, Yeun accepted without a second thought, primarily because of the solid storyline and having read the Invincible comics prior.
The ever so charismatic Simmons, who voiced Nolan, the villainous father of Mark, also known as Omni-Man, was equally enthusiastic about the show. Simmons, not formerly cognizant of Kirkman's creations nor the Invincible universe, found the script's intricate character relationships quite compelling. Also, knowing that Yeun and Oh were already onboard added to his confidence to sign up for the role.
It's clear that the extraordinary talents in Invincible's cast were not acquired through typical auditions. Instead, it was trust, persuasion, and a unique casting perspective that brought these impressive performers to voice the intriguing characters.
The series is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video with Seasons 1 and 2 available to watch. The eighth episode of Season 2 is slated for release on April 4, 2024.
