When it comes to actors who are perfectly cast as comic book characters, J.K. Simmons is in the upper echelons with his scene-stealing performance as J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. One of the few smart things the Amazing Spider-Man movies did was not trying to replace him because no one else was going to come close.

Now it looks like Simmons is returning to comic book worlds, but he’s moving from Marvel to DC. THR is reporting that Simmons will play Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon in Justice League. He follows in the footsteps of Pat Hingle from the 1989 – 1997 Batman movies and Gary Oldman, who played the character in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy.


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Image via Sony Pictures Classics

There are no other details on Gordon, but I’m curious to see Simmons’ take on the material. Presumably, this will be a serious approach, and I’m wondering what his relationship is like with a “veteran” Batman. Do they have a friendship? Are they reluctant allies? Is this a Gordon who gave up on Gotham and gave it over to Batman to protect? Granted, no one comes to a Justice League movie to see Comissioner Gordon, but it doesn't sound like a throwaway role if they’re getting Simmons on board and announcing it this early.

It will be interesting to see what other casting is announced prior to filming, which is set to begin on Part One in mid-April and open in theaters on November 17, 2017. Part Two opens on June 14, 2019.   The films will also star Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Amy Adams, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher.

Since he’s picked up an Oscar, Simmons has been keeping as busy as ever. He’s in La La Land for his Whiplash director Damien Chazelle, he’s co-starring with Mark Wahlberg in the Boston Marathon Bombing drama Patriot’s Day, and he’ll be seen later this year in The Meddler with Susan Sarandon, The Accountant with Ben Affleck, Bastards with Owen Wilson and Ed Helms, and The Snowman with Michael Fassbender.


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Image via WB

 

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Image via Sony Pictures Classics